Now you can order Parc en route to New York or D.C. Amtrak is rolling out dining experience with new dishes from Philly mainstays Parc, Pizzeria Stella, and Buddakan, in partnership with STARR Restaurant Group. But you’ll have to book a first class ticket on the NextGen and FirstGenAcelatrains to enjoy these favorites on board.
The options include: lasagna al forno,saucy lasagna with rich ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, from Pizzeria Stella. There’s also spiced black pepper marinated tenderloin topped with wok-tossed herbs, red finger chilies, and crispy Chinese crullers from Buddakan, or Parc’s rich, slow-simmered spaghettibolognese with crunchy garlic toast.
A server pushes a bar cart down the aisle of a business class car in a NextGen Acela
Onboard, Amtrak aims to offer the same culinary expertise enjoyed at Starr’s restaurant portfolio across Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
“Serving elevated offerings in Acela First Class in partnership with STARR Restaurant Group adds an exceptional touch to our customers’ experience onboard on our trains,” said Eliot Hamlisch, Amtrak’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, in a statement.
Amtrak is also debuting two new dishes by executive chef David Gottlieb. There’s a caramelized apple bread pudding for breakfast and chilled harissa salmon for lunch and dinner.
Ramadan marks a time of spiritual renewal for Muslims, a time to practice patience, gratitude, charity, and abstinence. This year, the observance began Feb. 17 and ends March 19, following the lunar calendar. Muslims observing Ramadan fast from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food and drink (even water). They often gather for suhoor, the predawn meal, and iftar, the meal at dusk that breaks the fast.
Suhoor, can range from hearty traditional stews to a quick bowl of cereal. At sunset, iftar is traditionally observed with dates, fresh juices, fried snacks, and other festive favorites. While meals can be enjoyed at home, many Muslims plan gatherings to start and end the fast together.
If you’re looking to dine out this Ramadan, here’s a list of Philadelphia-area restaurants open during early suhoor hours and offering iftar specials. While most of these establishments serve halal meat, check our guide to halal hot chicken and other eats for more options.
This list will be updated. Offering suhoor or iftar? Email us.
Lagman soup with chewy, housemade noodles is one of the standout Uzbek specialties at Plov House in Northeast Philadelphia.
24-hour restaurants with suhoor favorites
Plov House
This Northeast restaurant is open 24 hours a day in a city where all-night restaurants have become endangered, according to Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan. Expect halal Uzbeki homestyle dishes, including beef or lamb puff pastries, pilaf piled high with stewed meats and carrots, fried meaty turnovers, and crepes filled with cottage cheese and strawberry jam for your early morning feasting.
While traditional dishes are enjoyed during suhoor, classic American breakfast foods are a favorite, too. At Liberty Bell Diner, one of Philly’s few remaining 24-hour diners, you’ll find pancakes, omelets, and waffles around the clock.
8445 Frankford Ave., 215-331-4344, thelibertybelldiner.com, open 24 hours, seven days a week
Four Seasons Diner
This cozy 24-hour diner on Cottman Avenue offers cinnamon French toast, eggs any way, golden brown pancakes, and omelets. You could even end the predawn meal with a slice of strawberry cheesecake or chocolate fudge cake.
2811 Cottman Ave., 215-331-0797, fsdiner.com, open 24 hours, seven days a week
Makkah Market
In West Philly, this 24-hour market and kitchen offers a 25-seat dining area for sit-down suhoors and iftars. Since 1996, Makkah Market has been a staple in the neighborhood with Egyptian and Moroccan chefs cooking up meals to fill takeout boxes.
4249 Walnut St., 215-382-1821, makkahmarketpa.com, open 24 hours, seven days a week
At left is the haneeth and mandi duo, (lamb, chicken, and rice) beside the mixed grill, (lamb, chicken, beef, and fries) at Malooga, Chestnut Street in Old City, Philadelphia. A second location is in Narberth.
Where to find iftar menus in the Philly area
Yes Yasmine Kitchen
Every Thursdays during Ramadan, this pop-up offers take-home meals featuring djedj zitoune chicken (or cauliflower), black seed and black salt focaccia, Moroccan carrots, and an assortment of stuffed and chocolate-dunked dates. Weekly rotating meals are halal, with vegan options available for preorder on Tuesdays for pick-up on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Orders ($65 per person) can be placed online.
Old City’s Yemeni restaurant offers a $9.99 iftar special, which includes soup, two samosas, and three dates with any main dish. The special can be added to any dine-in order, from 5 p.m. until closing.
134 Chestnut St., 267-822-2327, maloogacatering.com, Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (The kitchen closes 30 minutes before closing time.)
Wah Gi Wah
This Pakistani restaurant in West Philly is offering Ramadan iftar boxes with appetizers, entrées, and naan. Items include chicken biryani, kabobs, or tandoori, along with salad, rice, and chana. Packages range from $9.99 to $19.99, depending on your options. Catering packages are available for $9.99 to $14.99.
4447 Chestnut St., 215-921-5597, wahgiwah.com, Sunday to Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday noon to 11 p.m.
Alamodak Restaurant & Hookah Bar
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Alamodak Restaurant in North Philly hosts a Ramadan iftar buffet. The buffet items rotate, but customers can expect chicken mandi, maqluba, appetizers, soup, and sweets. There are also vegan and vegetarian options. Adults pay $26.99 on Friday and Sunday, and $30.99 on Saturday. Kids under 10 years pay $10. On Feb. 28, there will be a Ramadan tent set up with music and seating from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Every year, Ramadan seems to catch me by surprise. Maybe it’s because the month-long holiday’s start date fluctuates 10 to 12 days following the lunar calendar. Or maybe it’s my disbelief that another year has come and gone. No matter the reason, Ramadan always comes back around when I need it the most.
For many Muslims, the holy month is one of spiritual renewal. It’s a month where we get to practice patience, abstinence, gratitude, and charity. This year, the month of observance runs from the evening of Feb. 17 to March 19, which means no food and drink — yes, even water — for about 12 to 14 hours for 30 days.
The key is good food and community before and after fasting. And in Philadelphia, that’s easy to find.
Here’s my guide to observing and celebrating Ramadan in the city I call home.
Falafel’s at Cilantro.
What does it mean to fast for Ramadan?
My day begins at 4 a.m. with suhoor, the meal that begins the fast. Typically, I roll out of bed and grab the first thing I can eat (a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, most days) and chug half a liter of water. Once the athan, or call to prayer, chimes on my phone close to 5:40 a.m., I abstain from eating and drinking until after the sun goes down.
After sunset, I break my fast with a date — a spiritual tradition rooted in teaching by the Prophet Muhammed — then dinner and lots of water.
Growing up, this end-of-fast meal, iftar, started with a quick snack that was followed by prayer and dinner. Now as an adult, I’m making my own traditions and breaking my fast all in one go, then praying afterward.
Muhammad Williams and Nyeem P. eat the iftar meal at Masjidullah in Philadelphia in March 2024. Ramadan is observed by Muslims with a month of fasting. The fast is broken each day with a nightly feast, called iftar.
Where can you celebrate in community in Philadelphia?
This year, I’m meal-prepping to save money, making jars of oatmeal and smoothies to start my fast and keep me full and stocking frozen marinated meats to pull out and cook before the athan signals the end of the fast.
Philly’s Muslim-owned restaurants are also celebrating with holiday buffets — think chicken mandi and maqluba at Alamodak or chicken briyani and goat korma at Wah Gi Wah — and special additions, like soups, samosas, and dates.
There are 24-hour establishments to gather with friends for suhoor — consider Plov House in the Northeast for fried meaty turnovers and sweet crepes or Liberty Bell Diner for pancakes, omelets, and waffles around the clock.
Tables filled up around 3 a.m. at the 24-hour Plov House, where diners shared hot teas alongside plates of manti and shurpa soup.
But they are not the only ones offering spreads of delicious foods to break fast in community.
When I moved to Philadelphia, iftars hosted by mosques were my North Star for finding community. I discovered a blend of Philly natives and immigrants from the city’s Muslim diaspora, from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan, breaking fast together at mosques, kitchen tables, and 24-hour diners across the city. Ramadan isn’t complete without a mosque iftar.
You could also shake things up and embark on an all-night food crawl — a ritual that’s been a highlight of my Ramadan calendar for four years now. Each year, my friends and I travel to New York City for one night during the holiday month, exploring the city’s late-night food scene from iftar to suhoor.
Last year, I realized that it was possible to crawl in Philadelphia, too, even ifPhilly has only a few establishments open past midnight and a handful of 24-hour diners left. But, as we found out, Ramadan brings a different kind of energy to the night.
What to do if you get invited to an iftar?
I’m a social butterfly, so hosting iftars is something I’m quite good at. I love gathering my community to yap and munch. (Pro-tip: Take it easy and host a potluck — unless you’re insanely talented like my mom, who can still whip up a spread of perfect dishes for over 30 people while fasting.)
Gulab jamun and gajar ka halwa are favorites for the holiday.
One question I hear from my lovely non-Muslim guests: What do I do if I get invited to an iftar? The answer is simple. Eat, a lot. The joy of Ramadan hosting is spending time with loved ones over good food. Seeing my guests enjoy food and company makes the day’s fast worth it.
If it’s a potluck, bring a dish you love to share. That’s what my very cool friend Kelsey McKinney did for an iftar I hosted last year. (Yes, I was fangirling that Philly’s very own gossip queen came to my potluck!) A competitor on The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off, McKinney baked a spiral pastry that looked like the sun and tasted like herby olives in buttery, flaky puff pastry.
“I could have rolled up with like a bag of delicious pistachios, and it would have been fine,” McKinney wrote. “But the bar for myself is so high! I wanted to bring something celebratory to the Hot Girl Iftar!”
Just remember: Don’t bring alcohol, and use halal ingredients.
Miled Finianos grew up between Miami, Fl. and Zgharta, Lebanon, until he moved to South Philly in 2019. The 30-year-old rising chef, who runs Habibi Supper Club and lives in an East Passyunk rowhouse with a lovely modern kitchen, where his recipe ideas come to life.
Within two years of its launch, Finianos has reimagined what chef-led dinners can look like in Philly with his exciting weekly concept Habibi Supper Club, an underground supper club in Philly serves the “love language for Arabs” with a big Lebanese feast. Loyal diners and first-timers consistently book out his supper club as soon as he drops the reservation link on social media for five to six course menus showcasing the flavors of his roots — think spreads of shish barak, warak enab, and kibbeh.
“Having left Lebanon 14 years ago, and I would say it’s important to me to preserve the recipes and the experiences that are attached to these dishes because a lot of Levantine culture is passed down by word-of-mouth,” he said. “So when the mouth gets farther away, it becomes hard to preserve the culture. Habibi Supper Club has brought me closer to my culture than ever before — that’s what fuels me to keep going.”
Here’s how Finianos would spend a perfect day in Philadelphia. “Habibi has no scary Sundays if I follow this exact itinerary,” he added.
8 a.m.
I used to wake up earlier when I was still at my corporate job, but now I sleep in a little longer to make up for some of the later hours of my supper clubs and workshops. Now I can sit in bed, check emails, messages, and socials — I’m a notorious quick responder; it kills me to leave things overnight.
9 a.m.
I’m out the door, dressed for the weather, and walking up Passyunk Ave to find coffee. We are blessed in South Philly with a plethora of coffee shops, each better than the next. My rotation is usually between Herman’s, Shot Tower, or Rival Bros. Today we’re hitting up Shot Tower for an iced americano — no matter the temperature outside.
Miled Finianos’ perfect Philly day includes a stop to see friend/chef Kenan Rabah at Majdal Bakery.
10:30 a.m.
After sipping on coffee and reading the newspaper at Shot Tower, it’s time for breakfast. The only breakfast spot for me is Majdal Bakery, where my friend [and owner/chef] Kenan [Rabah] is slinging the flavors I grew up with. (This is a public plea for him to bring back the za’atar manouche with makdous.) With Fairouz playing, I feel like I’m back home [in Ehden, Lebanon] for a bit. He won’t let me leave without trying something one of his new pastry inventions and I will always happily say yes.
11:30 a.m.
Sundays in Queen Village means the farmer’s market at Headhouse is in full swing. Armed with my tote and a debit card, I’ll peruse the market goodies, often while on FaceTime with my teta (grandmother) or mother. I show them what’s in season — but low-key, I’m farming for ideas of what they would do with what I buy. Then I head home with my goods and plot some personal menu ideas, along with some Habibi [Supper Club] R&D for whatever event is coming up.
1 p.m.
Hunger hits again, and lately I have been on a Vietnamese kick. I walk back up to either Pho Ha or Cafe Diem for a dry rice noodle bowl to satisfy that craving. We really are so lucky to have such a diverse authentic food scene in South Philly.
Miled Finianos visits the Headhouse Square farmers markets.
2:30 p.m.
Now, assuming I don’t have prep work to do, I’ll head back down Passyunk Ave, find another coffee, and sit with my laptop. If the weather is nice, I’ll park myself outside and people watch, daydreaming about a car-free Passyunk Square. This is the time I think of menu ideas, work on future events, and just soak in gratitude for being able to do this as a full-time gig.
View of Center City Philadelphia from the BoK Bar atop the BOK building in South Philadelphia on Thursday, August 5, 2021.
6 p.m.
Now, my social itch is itching. If this is a day off, I usually have plans with a friend — or 12. I like to keep it local, so drinks and snacks at Grace & Proper and Royal Tavern. Or if it’s open, Bok Bar, my favorite place in Philadelphia — the view of the city paired with the delicious pop-up of the month just makes my heart full.
9 p.m.
One last drink at my fave dive bar, The Jim. I have been ending my nights with a nice shot of Fernet Branca because anything else gives me acid reflux — that’s just too much information to be sharing, but oh well.
As you can probably tell now, the perfect day for me is devoid of any chores or errands because that’s what Mondays are for.
Swiped right on a hottie — or two? Looking to celebrate 10 years together? Need to convince your latest situationship to stay? No matter the romantic situation you’re in, there’s one question on every Philly lover’s mind: In a city teeming with incredible restaurants and bars, what’s the best date-night pick? The answer isn’t always so simple.
Luckily, you have the Inquirer’s date-night matchmaker in your back pocket. We’ve plumbed the food team’s deep well of Philly restaurant knowledge to offer you the best recommendations and swoop you (and your date) off your feet.
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Enjoy black truffle chicken, cast iron miso black cod, and beef tataki toast inside the polished dining room with the backdrop of the Delaware River.”},{name:”Northridge at Woolverton Inn”,place_slug:”northridge-at-woolverton-inn”,location:”other”,region:”Hunterdon County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/K66QVLS23BG55JFDC4RSN6M5ZA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Steakhouse, Seafood”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/northridge-at-woolverton-inn/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs, wine”,vibe:”formal, surprising”,description:”Beneath a cathedral ceiling is Northridgeu2019s intimate dining room, get cozy with Chef Lance Knowlingu2019s prix-fixe menu with American comfort foods as the fireplace keeps you warm. Itu2019s BYOB, but there are wines for sale nearby.”},{name:”Lu2019Olivo Trattoria”,place_slug:”l-olivo-trattoria-exton”,location:”other”,region:”Chester County”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F455GN4V7NE4XIFTMM3BYP6X4A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/l-olivo-trattoria-exton/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual, surprising”,description:”Opened in late 2025, this Italian bistro in Exton specializes in hand-rolled pastas (with some Thai touches). Also: mussels, sausage, swordfish meatballs, paninis, tiramisu and lots of cocktails.”},{name:”La Belle Epoque”,place_slug:”la-belle-epoque-media”,location:”other”,region:”Delaware County”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/OWJO2YHXYRGURLHRHT4WCCBBW4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/la-belle-epoque-media/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual, surprising”,description:”A mainstay in Mediau2019s vibrant dining scene, this cozy French bistro on State Street offers artfully arranged dishes u2014 from crepes and croissants to le filet mignon au poivre and truite amandine u2014 and a sizable wine selection to pair them with. La Belle Epoqueu2019s onion soup, topped with gooey Swiss cheese, is always a winner, too.”},{name:”Jolene’s”,place_slug:”jolenes-west-chester”,location:”other”,region:”Chester County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/CKJEFP7JBFEI3LMGFCSFIA3RWI/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/jolenes-west-chester/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”surprising, formal”,description:”This low-lit French-leaning dinner spot is built around cocktails and small plates, delivering date-night vibes. Joleneu2019s is big on buzz u2014 both the local word-of-mouth as well as the volume in the dining room. (The restaurant suggests coming out on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to avoid the din.)”},{name:”Coco Thai Bistro”,place_slug:”coco-thai-bistro”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/PN3TXBXETZA5BAQDKRVMGMGUYQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Thai”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/coco-thai-bistro/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”casual, surprising”,description:”The Main Line hamlet of Narberth is hardly a hotbed of ethnic diversity, but it does boast a surprisingly varied food scene including a French patisserie, an Osaka-style Japanese lunch counter and this cute Thai BYO offering decent pad thai, hearty vegetarian stir fries with coconut milk, and a fresh take on the traditional Thai green papaya salad.”},{name:”Casablanca”,place_slug:”casablanca-mediterranean-grill”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/IPAWXOB5VFGTNC4SL3B7QERZNI/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mediterranean”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/casablanca-mediterranean-grill/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”casual, surprising”,description:”Tucked into the longtime home of Bitaru2019s u2014 just a block or so from the Italian Market u2014 Walid and Tala Barukiu2019s stylish Casablanca dining room offers a comparable menu full of shawarma, falafel, silky hummus and tender Moroccan roast chicken. Thereu2019s also a lovely little market attached with Middle Eastern groceries and Soumaya & Sons pita for sale.”},{name:”Abyssinia”,place_slug:”abyssinia”,location:”philly”,region:”West Philadelphia”,price_range:”$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/3KIQT6EFMBEXJI2FSTRZAEOJCU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Ethiopian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/abyssinia/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, Divey”,vibe:”casual, surprising”,description:”Fast, cheap and open late, this beloved West Philly staple offers hearty Ethiopian meals in an intimate, casual setting. A common Abyssinia experience involves a plate of thick and aromatic Wot stew u2014 have it veggie, or with beef, chicken, lamb, shrimp, etc. u2014 served on a fresh blanket of fresh and chewy injera sour bread. “},{name:”Apricot Stone”,place_slug:”apricot-stone”,location:”philly”,region:”Northern Liberties/Spring Garden”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/26WJ2QFHWJDG3NZN4I4UHL4PNU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mediterranean, Middle Eastern”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/apricot-stone/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Owned and operated by mother-son duo Fimy and Ara Ishkhanian, this Northern Liberties BYOB has earned a loyal following thanks to Armenian specialties like the crispy manti, tangy hand-wrapped grape leaves, and lahmajoun flatbreads topped with spiced meat. More recently Apricot Stone has benefited from consultation from Cypriot-born chef Konstantinos Pitsillides, who helped broaden the menuu2019s Mediterranean horizons by adding grilled halloumi, slow-braised rabbit and lamb shanks, and shrimp saganaki u2014 a showstopper which arrives bubbling with fragrant tomato sauce and feta cheese.”},{name:”Provenance”,place_slug:”provenance”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QIIW2K43WZEIPI5RO5EFB2YNPQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, Korean”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/provenance/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Provenance is Philly’s most ambitious French fine-dining restaurant in years. Chef Nich Bazik blends classic French cuisine with subtle Korean influences into tasting menus with over 20 courses.”},{name:”Chateau Rouge”,place_slug:”chateau-rouge-restaurant”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/VUENWF7VGJEDBLFKE7Q5RKGQ3A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”West African, French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/chateau-rouge-restaurant/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”formal”,description:”ChxE2teau Rouge is a BYOB in Graduate Hospital that blends Cameroonian heritage with French technique in lively, soulful dishes. The menu features peppery suya wings, tender lamb skewers, grilled fish, and sides like plantains or rich stews. The flavors are bold and expansive, carried by a warm hospitality from the staff.”},{name:”Ground Provisons “,place_slug:”ground-provisions”,location:”other”,region:”Chester County”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/KOKYXPDG6ZDWNOUKFFWDT4OS6A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vegetarian, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ground-provisions/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual, formal”,description:”Ground Provisions in West Chester is an all plant-based restaurant built around a multi-course tasting menu that changes regularly. The bar keeps things lively with natural wines, craft cocktails, and local brews, making the pairings part of an immersive experience. Meanwhile, a more casual lounge area offers walk-in snacks and smaller plates for those not doing the full tasting.”},{name:”Ginger”,place_slug:”ginger-restaurant”,location:”philly”,region:”Northeast Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/65I6EUM5HZGVHO5FP2K6OPYFWY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Central Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ginger-restaurant/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Northeast Philadelphia is crowded with kitchens representing the cuisines of the post-Soviet diaspora, from Uzbek plov houses to Georgian bakeries and Uyhgur noodles. But Temir Satybaldievu2019s Ginger is a rare bridge between traditional foodways and the modern ambitions of contemporary fine dining. Plus, the owner/chef is skilled with pastry. The creamy flow of his Basque-style u201CSan Sebastianu201D cheesecake is worth the trip alone. “},{name:”Pho 75″,place_slug:”pho-75″,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/T4TXQQOSNJHWVIUT7ESU76SC2M/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Pho, Vietnamese”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/pho-75/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”casual”,description:”There are many fragrant, beefy, spiced bowls of pho to be slurped around Philly, served in restaurants that often have enormous, almost unwieldy menus. Pho 75 only does pho. It harnesses all its excellence and focus on a single dish, the hallmark of this bare-bones operation out of the D.C. area that has nevertheless wound its way into the hearts of most Philadelphia chefs. Bring cash.”},{name:”Dara”,place_slug:”dara-philly”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/E3QPXD3DCFBIBNMMU5X65GELEE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Thai”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/dara-philly/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Dara brings Thai flavors to the heart of Philly with a menu that balances bold spice and richness. From stir-fries to curries, every plate is lively and thoughtfully made. Itu2019s a BYOB spot that feels laid-back and full of flavor, with dishes like the drunken noodles and crispy duck curry standing out among other favorites”},{name:”Geronimo’s Peruvian Cuisine”,place_slug:”geronimos-peruvian-cuisine”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/JISLUDL4YJHQZOCLHYKMKKVZ54/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”South American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/geronimos-peruvian-cuisine/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Geronimou2019s Peruvian Cuisine in Ambler serves bold, flavorful dishes inspired by traditional Peruvian cooking. Favorites include the pollo a la brasa, made with fresh ingredients and bright seasonings. Itu2019s a cozy spot where every plate feels vibrant and full of character.”},{name:”Dolsan Korean BBQ”,place_slug:”dolsan-korean-bbq-and-sushi”,location:”other”,region:”Burlington County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/OA5LQFFPJVFCDHN54C6BI73TEY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Korean, Sushi”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/dolsan-korean-bbq-and-sushi/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Dolsan KBBQ and Sushi combines the energy of a Korean barbecue house with the precision of a sushi bar under one roof. Guests can grill meats like ribeye, galbi, and pork belly at the table, then mix it up with fresh rolls and sashimi. Add in classic banchan and sides, and itu2019s a spot made for big, shareable meals.”},{name:”Oba Mediterranean Grill”,place_slug:”oba-mediterranean-grill”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QR6POOR6DZAYVB7DIEC7QV7IHI/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mediterranean, Turkish”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/oba-mediterranean-grill/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual, formal”,description:”Oba Mediterranean Grill in Collingswood serves Turkish cooking thatu2019s vibrant and full of character. The kitchen dishes out smoky kebabs, crisp pide, fresh salads, and spreads like hummus and baba ghanoush that are meant for sharing. Itu2019s a spot where bright flavors meet a relaxed table, making every meal feel both abundant and inviting. “},{name:”Yanaga Kappo Izakaya”,place_slug:”yanaga-kappo-izakaya”,location:”philly”,region:”River Wards”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EHYIHNRTRNC2TJULSKK372OAOA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Japanese, Sushi”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/yanaga-kappo-izakaya/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”This is restaurant veteran Kevin Yanagau2019s stealth transformation of what was once the Abbaye in Northern Liberties. The decor remains virtually unchanged from its divey predecessor, but the menu now features a large array of casually presented handrolls, maki rolls, fries with mayo-heavy dips, little rice bowls, and wagyu hot dogs cut into segments to be shared. Thereu2019s an excellent happy hour that includes food specials and drinks, mostly under $10. Behind a bookcase, youu2019ll also find Yanagau2019s far more elevated omakase, where a plethora of ultra-fine ingredients are manipulated into singularly spectacular bites.”},{name:”Roxanne”,place_slug:”roxanne”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/WVLZ4GMQINCIDCT2XDTEMMLTXM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/roxanne/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”In Queen Village, Roxanne turns dinner into a playful experiment where flavor and presentation are unpredictable. Chef Alexandra Holt leans into unexpected pairings and daring ideas, from inventive riffs on Philly classics to desserts that flip form from sweet to savory. The result is a restaurant that mixes refined cooking with a fearless, boundary-pushing energy.”},{name:”Parc”,place_slug:”parc”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/5OR35C67B5HSHNFWH5O7TWRUIY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/parc/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”In a city with a vibrant but restless food scene, Stephen Starru2019s mega-brasserie on Rittenhouse Square has remained relevant by doing what it does really, really well. With its mosaic-tiled floors, pewter-topped bar, and patina mirrors, the perpetually busy and bustling Parc exudes authentic Parisian energy. “},{name:”Le Virtu”,place_slug:”le-virtu”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EYEMS2JXWFAFPNWWYAUWNFGLAU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/le-virtu/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”wine”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Le Virtu is a South Philly restaurant focused on rustic cooking inspired by Italyu2019s Abruzzo region. The menu highlights handmade pasta, house-cured meats, and dishes made with local ingredients. Itu2019s a steady spot that keeps things traditional without feeling dated. Seasonal specials and a robust selection from the grill round out a menu that leans on the heartier side.”},{name:”Superette “,place_slug:”superette”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/TJXDNSK4QFC35KYEJPOJBQOFHM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, Bar, Market”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/superette/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”casual”,description:”Superette is a cozy corner spot on East Passyunk combining a small market and bottle shop with a laid-back wine bar. The menu leans into light bites, refreshing sandwiches, and playful desserts. Itu2019s a chill neighborhood place that gives off a relaxed vibe while staying thoughtfully curated.”},{name:”Poison Heart”,place_slug:”poison-heart”,location:”philly”,region:”North Philadelphia”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/ZJ4OL5SUFZE45PN33ILECXRKWA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Bar, American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/poison-heart/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, beer”,vibe:”casual”,description:”Low-lit and loud, Poison Heart has a small, impeccably curated menu of good food and drinks u2014 just what you’d expect from an alum of Le Caveau and Good King Tavern. Light bites (oysters, olives, shrimp cocktail, fried pickles) counterbalance an excellent patty melt and grilled cheese. Don’t skip best-selling the freezer cocktails.”},{name:”La Jefa”,place_slug:”la-jefa”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QCO7RSW4VVBYPI2QIWK33WNSP4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mexican, Bar, Cafe”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/la-jefa/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”La Jefa is a Mexican-inspired all-day cafe and nightlife spot in Philly that bridges flavors from Guadalajara and local flare. The menu ranges from chilaquiles to aguachile, with plenty of bold, regional flavors. Drinks lean toward agave spirits with creative twists, while the Milpa lounge in the back offers a more intimate space for cocktails.”},{name:”Suraya”,place_slug:”suraya”,location:”philly”,region:”Fishtown”,price_range:”$, $$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/URTITURTJJHUXJJXNDBZOR2GIE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Levantine, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Lebanese”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/suraya/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:””,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”The menu at this sprawling and beautiful Fishtown destination for Lebanese food from the Defined Hospitality restaurant group is 90% gluten-free. It offers cruditxE9 in lieu of pita for the mezza (including the intensely smoky baba ghanoush) and nothing with gluten touches the live fire grill that produces some of the restaurantu2019s most memorable flavors, from the various kebabs to the head-on prawns and samke harra branzino.”},{name:”Mary”,place_slug:”mary”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EMAR6EIMLFDCNLLWOIXCOB6FMU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”American, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/mary/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs, cocktails”,vibe:”formal, surprising”,description:”Mary is a cozy, dimly lit BYOB in Ambler from chef Chad Rosenthal, offering a small menu built around well-executed comfort food. Dishes are prepared in an open kitchen, with an emphasis on high-quality, local ingredients, and layered flavors. Whether itu2019s the pepper-crusted steak or a slice of warm apple cake, you can be sure the food is carefully crafted.”},{name:”Hearthside”,place_slug:”hearthside”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$, $$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EWQJW76Q4JC2FDW6ECGQOBFPDI/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”BYOB, American, Steakhouse”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/hearthside/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual, surprising”,description:”Hearthside in Collingswood is a modern American BYOB with an open kitchen and wood-fired grill at the heart of its space. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on local ingredients, offering dishes like dry-aged steaks, handmade pastas, and seafood cooked over an open flame. With its warm interior and focus on well-executed food, itu2019s a popular choice for both special occasions and casual nights out.”},{name:”Palizzi Social Club”,place_slug:”palizzi-social-club”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/TJS6KVCLVVDYLODM7XDRARCZFE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/palizzi-social-club/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”wine , cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Every once in a while, this kitschy, century-old speakeasy in South Philly opens its rolls up to new members, but not many and not often. Your best bet is to buddy up to somebody whou2019s already got a gold seal to flash at the peephole, and play it cool. The main dining room seats about 45 people, while the upstairs cocktail lounge can squeeze in maybe 20, plus five at the bar. “},{name:”Barclay Prime”,place_slug:”barclay-prime”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/XMWQX65E6VFDTODE6PY4H42ZEA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Steakhouse”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/barclay-prime/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”With a reputation for dining excellence among athletes, dignitaries, and visiting celebs, this busy boutique steakhouse in Rittenhouse Square has been in the u201CBest Philly Steaku201D conversation going on two decades. Barclay Prime serves the cityu2019s gold standard for dry-aged luxe prime rib eye, and its other meats, fishes, sides and desserts ainu2019t half bad either. “},{name:”Irwin’s”,place_slug:”irwins”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/J6DBG4R3AFD7ZB7NHEG4QLNHOU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/irwins/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”High in the hive of creativity that is South Phillyu2019s Bok Building sits one of the most distinctive and edgy dining rooms in Philadelphia. Led by chef Michael Vincent Ferreri, Irwinu2019s is a magnetic dinner destination, offering stellar views of the city and a menu inspired by modern Sicilian flavors u2014 fish, lamb, agrodolce chicken u2014 but shaped by local seasonality. “},{name:”Fiorella”,place_slug:”fiorella”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F32U3RJM5JGWFAKZHU7DBTBMCY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/fiorella/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Named for the landmark butcher shop that occupied the space for 125 years, Marc Vetriu2019s bustling pasta bar fits right into its Italian Market neighborhood. With its tin ceiling, tiled walls, and behemoth brass cash register circa 1901, Fiorella exudes antique vibes while swiftly serving up fresh linguini, gnocchi, ravioli, etc. “},{name:”Meetinghouse”,place_slug:”meetinghouse”,location:”philly”,region:”River Wards”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/CD3VTCDV6FAAVAJYGCAITDUF4E/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Gastropub, American, Bar”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/meetinghouse/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Sometimes you need a break from all the innovating and experimenting in the restaurant scene. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows the names of everything on the menu: beer, burger, crab dip, grilled pork and beans. Chef-partner Drew DiTomo and his crew at this Kensington gastropub focus on warmth, preparation and polished nostalgia. “},{name:”Laser Wolf”,place_slug:”laser-wolf”,location:”philly”,region:”North Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/J6ZWKLA5ONBLXJTAOYWNABEI3Y/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Middle Eastern, Israeli”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/laser-wolf/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”With its roll-up doors, picnic tables and breezy dining area, Michael Solomonov’s wildly in-demand Kensington hotspot has the casual feel of neighborhood eatery. Reservations are recommended but hard to come by. Still, critic Craig LaBan says you have options: u201CWith 20 seats around the bar and chefu2019s counter for walk-ins (try early, late or midweek), chances of sating a craving for an arak-spiked cocktail with a koobideh kebab and hummus ringed by seasonal salatim are strong.u201D”},{name:”Ogawa”,place_slug:”ogawa-sushi-kappo”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QSKFHZDFCZFMDBPXLD3BWKXADY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Japanese, Sushi”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ogawa-sushi-kappo/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Led by young but skilled head chef Carlos Wills, the $200 omakase experience at Ogawa is top-notch, offering 23 ever-changing courses of raw and rare delicacies served in a traditional, minimalist style. This includes food cooked (like the Wagyu torched before your eyes until it glistens with fat) and otherwise (i.e. the pristinely cut sashimi plate and nigiri draped over vinegar-tanged rice). This Old City spot represents a down-to-earth Philly rebuke to the obnoxious u201Cbromakaseu201D clichxE9: relaxed, convivial and full of colorful surprises in the form of seasonal catches from Tokyo Bay.”},{name:”Southwark”,place_slug:”southwark”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/HX7TVPINFBAJTEGAVGSQ5KLEB4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Italian, Bar”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/southwark/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”It was a tall order, taking over the handsome Queen Village bar-restaurant credited with leading the cityu2019s cocktail revival, but husband and wife duo Marina de Oliveira and chef Chris D’Ambro have by all accounts passed the test with flying colors over the past decade. In addition to its classy, eye-catching cocktails u2014 with names like u201CLawyers, Guns & Money,u201D u201CHouse Of Jealous Lovers,u201D and u201CMariah Carey Can’t Danceu201D u2014 Southwark continues to impress with its appetizers, entrees, and desserts. “},{name:”Alice”,place_slug:”alice-restaurant”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/JJKERXCG35DYRHQSKAFFYZFEAY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/alice-restaurant/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Chef Dave Conn’s casually elegant modern American bistro in the Italian Market is more than a smoke show. Itu2019s a date night destination with an intimate, cozy banquettes, an open kitchen, and a lively bar.”},{name:”River Twice”,place_slug:”river-twice”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/3JJZIWSM4JDRNIDLHO6AD4KV2Y/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”American, Modern American, Seafood”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/river-twice/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Known for its harmonious blend of gastronomic preciousness and rustic oomph, this modern American fine-dining spot on East Passyunk earned a semifinalistu2019s nod from the James Beard Foundation in 2024. The menu at River Twice is seasonal and subject to the whims of restless (some have said u201Cmercurialu201D) chef Randy Rucker, who favors upscale, strikingly plated reimaginings of downhome dishes. From a perch at the chefu2019s counter, you may observe him and his crew performing feats of molecular modernism, or arranging sprouts with tweezers, to a Southern rock soundtrack. “},{name:”Her Place Supper Club”,place_slug:”her-place”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/N56DZRFTTBEP5FSPAKQUF6ZWNA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/her-place/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Itu2019s hard to overstate the broader influence of Her Place Supper Club, with its frequently changing tasting menus, TED Talk-like course narrations, and Instagram-stoked reservation scrambles that’s led Amanda Shulman to a Michelin star. Her original 24-seat gem is one of Phillyu2019s most exquisitely polished dining experiences, with a thoughtfully concise drink program, an ever-whimsical vibe, and hyper-seasonal menus with French, Italian, and nostalgic Jewish influences. The dishes here are a pitch-perfect collaboration of an all-female kitchen locked in sync.”},{name:”White Yak”,place_slug:”royal-sushi-and-izakaya”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/FDYSRBOBURGDBGN6UVRYTEETSM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Japanese, Sushi, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/royal-sushi-and-izakaya/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”casual”,description:`The momos u2014 whether they’re the tongue-tingling chili variety, the carefully pleated Himalayan dumplings, or the moneybag-shaped fried firecrackers dressed in a tangy sauce u2014 merit a trek to this Tibetan BYOB, appropriately nestled high on the hills of Roxborough. Chef-owner Treley Parshingtsang has many other tricks up her sleeve, including a spicy glass noodle salad, coins of handmade Tibetan sausage that melt in your mouth, “Shangri-La style” zucchini in a sweet-and-sour sauce, and thenthuk: hand-pulled noodles swimming in a gingery, tomato-infused beef broth. The experience is enriched by the soft-spoken, attentive service in the cozy golden dining room adorned with candle-lit windows.`},{name:”Andiario “,place_slug:”andiario”,location:”other”,region:”Chester County”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/T2DYTLFBQNEHLFPXJMMMVERIXM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian, American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/andiario/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”In West Chester, thereu2019s one place for fine dining, complete with white tablecloths and a careful wine list u2014xA0and thatu2019s chef Anthony Andiariou2019s Italian American gem. The hour-plus drive is worth it with whole animal butchery, handmade pastas, and fresh bread at the end. “},{name:”Pera Turkish Restaurant”,place_slug:”pera-turkish-cuisine”,location:”philly”,region:”Northern Liberties”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/DKL2P554IJFD5PVTAJ7AQXSQ4U/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Turkish, BYOB, Halal, Middle Eastern”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/pera-turkish-cuisine/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”This walk-in-only BYOB, its boisterous brick walls festooned with ceramic plates looking out onto a prime Northern Liberties corner, is always packed. Chef Mehmet Erginu2019s menu is the areau2019s finest example of classic Turkish cooking, distinguished by the chefu2019s touch and close attention to techniques that render dishes with extra depth and flavor.”},{name:”Villa di Roma”,place_slug:”villa-di-roma”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/UOMPPN3NQRBBHEXUFA3DSXUW6Y/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/villa-di-roma/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”wine , beer”,vibe:”casual”,description:”Smack in the middle of the Italian Market, Villa di Roma is the eternal answer to u201Cwhere should we take these out-of-towners to dinner?u201D Itu2019s also a favorite of locals thanks to its red-sauce charms and a relaxed atmosphere where getting a little rowdy is encouraged. Come here not for frills u2014 the menus are paper and oft tomato-spattered, and the wine is an afterthought u2014 but for the feeling that not much has changed in this joint since it arrived in Philly in the 1960s. “},{name:”Li Beirut”,place_slug:”li-beirut”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F3EXKIIIMVANPAUYP3VQL65QH4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Middle Eastern, BYOB, Halal, Mediterranean, Levantine, Lebanese”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/li-beirut/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Genial host and owner Tony Massoud works every table in Li Beirut’s breezy dining room while wife Patricia Massoud cooks the cuisine of her youth at their bustling Lebanese BYOB on the ground floor of a century-old house in Collingswood. Itu2019s impossible to order incorrectly here, no matter whatu2019s in the colorful ceramic bowls of mezze or on the platters of charcoal-grilled dishes u2014 but youu2019d be ordering especially right if you wind up with the lamb chops or kafta kebab sausages. Or, instead of having to choose at all, you could just get the Taste of Lebanon, a prix-fixe extravaganza that allows you to run the menu and enjoy one of the best values in the region.”},{name:”El Chingon”,place_slug:”el-chingon”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/IHHY5MXYDZBXVBDAACJ43I4O2M/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mexican, BYOB”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/el-chingon/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Baking has always powered El ChingxF3n, from the swirl-topped sesame cemita rolls that help Carlos Aparicio recreate his favorite overstuffed Puebla sandwiches (get the clxE1sica with Milanesa), to the daily concha roll flavors stuffed with ganache for dessert (love the canela-scented corn pinole!), or even the sourdough tang that infuses flour tortillas for the fantastic xC1rabes tacos sliced off a trompo spit. It is Apariciou2019s creative spirit, however, that makes this cheerful all-day cafe and BYOB Phillyu2019s most exhilarating Mexican kitchen.”},{name:”My Loup”,place_slug:”my-loup”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/FAS3FTDGHZGFVK42VASEJQCTEA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, Seafood, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/my-loup/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”There can be any number of hot restaurants in a given moment, but if there is a restaurant of this particular moment, it is My Loup from chefs Alex Kemp and Amanda Shulman. The dining room thrums with the exuberance of a restaurant that hasn’t just hit its stride, but knows it. Sibling restaurant and perpetual dinner party Her Place may feel more special or even more uniquely Philly, but this is the room you want to be in right now, week after week u2014 at least, if you can afford it.”},{name:”Lark”,place_slug:”lark”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EUUQ2VJUUNFMDHHB4R4G6CF5HM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mediterranean, Seafood, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/lark/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Taking in a sunset from the rooftop terrace while cozying up by a fire with a nightcap u2014 say, the Outdoorsman, with mushroom-infused rye and oolong tea u2014 is reason enough to visit this Main Line gem overlooking the banks of the Schuylkill. But the vivid cooking from Top Chef alum Nicholas Elmi and chef Michael Millon would be a powerful lure in even the dreariest setting. The Mediterranean-leaning menu, which u201Ccoaxes big flavors from seemingly minimalist presentations,u201D highlights fastidiously prepared seafood and lush pastas u2014 think ricotta cavatelli with yellow corn, forest mushrooms, and serrano chili u2014 in equal measure in one of the regionu2019s most stunning spaces.”},{name:”Mawn”,place_slug:”mawn”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/H67VBNIEMJFPTC5NPGLHCPARRQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Cambodian, BYOB, Southeast Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/mawn/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”One of the hottest reservations in town, Phila and Rachel Lornu2019s intimate Bella Vista BYOB is a tribute to Cambodian cooking. The most exciting dishes on the pan-Asian menu highlight Philau2019s Khmer roots, from the banh chow crepe salad with u201CSunday fish sauceu201D to steak and prahok,”},{name:”Heavy Metal Sausage Co. (trattoria)”,place_slug:”heavy-metal-sausage”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/SW6WNC5YMRC2ZPZBI5QSQ3R3PQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, BYOB, Sandwich, Tasting Menu, Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/heavy-metal-sausage/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual, surprising”,description:”Whether you crave a lieberwurst sandwich on housemade bread, fresh country pxE2txE9 to go, or a blowout multicourse dinner, Heavy Metal Sausage Co. has you covered. No culinary corner handcrafts more u2014 or with nerdier ambition u2014 than this South Philly storefront run by chef Patrick Alfiero and Melissa Pellegrino. “},{name:”Amma’s South Indian Cuisine”,place_slug:”ammas-south-indian-kitchen”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/O2Q662MVBRH5BNEPSWGKU3V4VE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Indian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ammas-south-indian-kitchen/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, wine , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”The towering dosa u2014 that tawny cone of parchment-thin crepe drizzled with ghee sailing through the dining room to virtually every table u2014 is a tribute to Mama, for whom Sathish Varadhan and Balakrishnan Duraisamyu2019s restaurant is also named: Amma is the Tamil word for u201Cmother.u201D That dedication to the flavors of home has driven the pair to expand across the Philly area, with four locations and more to come. “},{name:”Friday Saturday Sunday”,place_slug:”friday-saturday-sunday”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/4RRPTZR62NHX5OHBAUJMUBMD24/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/friday-saturday-sunday/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”This intimate townhouse restaurant off Rittenhouse Square is still basking in the glow of earning a Michelin star. But with one astounding bite after another on their tasting menu Chad and Hanna Williams are clearly not resting on any laurels. Their townhouse oasis off Rittenhouse Square, already the most exciting fine dining experience in Philly, only continues to get better. The hype for Friday Saturday Sunday is absolutely legit. “},{name:”Zeppoli”,place_slug:”zeppoli”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/OUYPDLC5QNDGRDLUVNEZUXBFHA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian, BYOB, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/zeppoli/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”This 35-seat Sicilian-focused BYOB in Collingswood is run by chef-owner Joey Baldino, the force behind the food at Palizzi Social Club. Where the Palizzi feels, well, clubby, thanks to its checkerboard tile floors, leather bar seats, and members-only rule, Zeppoli is brighter and more spare, though often equally packed. The $55 prix fixe has to be one of the best deals in the greater Philadelphia area, with three dishes included, but add-ons allowed u2014 encouraged, even. “},{name:”Gabriella’s Vietnam”,place_slug:”gabriellas-vietnam”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/JPM7L7Y6LBA7FB4CCXHAMLAS3A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vietnamese, Southeast Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/gabriellas-vietnam/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”In a city filled with excellent Vietnamese food, Gabriellau2019s Vietnamu2019s star still shines brightly. Chef Thanh Nguyen doesnu2019t just serve dishes that hew to the classic street foods or hot pots of Southern Vietnam, she makes them sensational. Dinner at Gabriellau2019s u2014 especially when Nguyen puts sporadic specials on the menu, like a recent addition of clams simmered in a clear lemongrass and mushroom broth u2014 is a spectacular parade of Vietnamese classics, but made better than anywhere else in Philadelphia.”},{name:”Bolo”,place_slug:”bolo”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/U7SN2RMYMRDY7EI3GRFT76XYWE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Tasting Menu, Latin American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/bolo/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Philly has one of the largest and longest-established Puerto Rican communities outside of San Juan and plenty of neighborhood places for a traditional meal of chuletas, mofongo, and chicharrxF3n. Nowhere puts Boricua flavors on a pedestal quite like Bolo. In a beautiful bi-level space in Rittenhouse Square filled with Puerto Rican art, chef Yun Fuentes celebrates his San Juan roots and Latinx cooking from across the Caribbean with polished takes on everything from bacalaitos to ceviche and vaca frita.”},{name:”Vedge”,place_slug:”vedge”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/2VAN3HKGJBBZDLGURVMHNYSWY4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vegetarian, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/vedge/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”A place that will make your guests ask, as mine did, u201CWait … all this is vegan?u201D you don’t need a plant-based diet to appreciate the restaurant’s many charms. Some of the stars on Vedge’s menu u2014 the smoky campfire carrot, the subtly spicy dan dan noodles, or the rutabaga fondue with perfectly tart-and-snappy pickles u2014 have been there for years, but they’re welcome sights every time you encounter this menu full of vegetable-based innovations. This restaurant’s combination of consistency and delight over more than a decade in operation is especially impressive given the ownersu2019 other ventures u2014 most recently, the charming West Chester market & prix fixe Ground Provisions. “},{name:”June BYOB”,place_slug:”june-byob”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/L3CA3K3KDZF5TFB7BA2OA7ICVA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, BYOB”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/june-byob/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:””,vibe:”formal”,description:”The elegance of classic French cuisine shines on at this Collingswood BYOB, where Richard u201CToddu201D Cusack draws diners with the turning crank of his duck press and the three-course u201Cvoyageu201D tasting for two, which includes the tableside flambxE9e theatrics of crxEApes Suzette. This is the regionu2019s most faithful descendant of the Le Bec-Fin lineage (where Calmels was one of the final chefs and Cusack also worked), but Juneu2019s menu isnu2019t stuck in the Escoffier past, with modern expressions like crudos, vegan dishes, and summer scallops with Jersey corn risotto. Along with gracious service, this intimate gem has evolved into one of the areau2019s loveliest restaurants for a celebratory meal rooted in classic Gallic style.”},{name:”Pietramala”,place_slug:”pietramala”,location:”philly”,region:”Northern Liberties”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/YTNW4LVL6NC3ZABVWXREFLYLMQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vegetarian, Modern American, Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/pietramala/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Pietramala is a cozy vegan spot, with such a tight menu u2014 usually no more than 10 plates u2014 that you can comfortably order the whole thing with a group of four and not feel overwhelmed. Yet you’ll never have the same meal twice: Chef Ian Grayeu2019s incredibly inventive cooking, which treats produce with the full range of culinary techniques (charring, fermenting, compressing) pushes vegetables to acrobatic heights, and heu2019s always attempting new feats. It’s what’s led him to secure a Mitchelin Green star.”},{name:”Kalaya”,place_slug:”kalaya”,location:”philly”,region:”Fishtown”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/VFWGHFQCL5HXNJUZXV6OZN3KP4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Thai, Southeast Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/kalaya/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Is there a more exciting restaurant in Philadelphia than Kalaya? Chutatip u201CNoku201D Suntaranon, the James Beard-winning chef, cookbook author, and Chefu2019s Table subject, makes the case for Southern Thai flavors in the soaring, palm-fringed space of a converted Fishtown warehouse that she opened with the partners behind Suraya and Pizzeria Beddia. There are new tasting menu options now, too, that provide perfect examples of how to order a balanced Kalaya meal.”},{name:”Middle Child Clubhouse”,place_slug:”middle-child-clubhouse”,location:”philly”,region:”River Wards”,price_range:”$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F2K6JIRYUJCZJMNFXL6KVG6CC4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, American, Gastropub, Breakfast, Sandwich”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/middle-child-clubhouse/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, beer, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual, casual”,description:”A blinking neon martini glass and coffee mug sign, a poster of Princess Diana in her iconic Eagles varsity jacket, and a conspicuously positioned pool table lean into ad-man-turned-sandwich-guy Matt Cahnu2019s penchant for inventive twists on classics and aspirations to create a timeless brand. But itu2019s the clever takes on American standards coming out of Middle Child Clubhouseu2019s kitchen u2014 as well as sandwiches from the original Middle Child u2014 that have everyone hanging around for hours.”}]};var pi=Q(),H=e=>{if(e)return e.replace(/’/,”u2019″)};var N=e=>{if(e)return e.trim().toLowerCase().normalize(“NFD”).replace(/[u0300-u036f]/g,””).replace(/[^A-Z0-9 ]/gi,””).trim().replace(/ /g,”-“)};var Z=()=>/Android|webOS|iPhone|iPad|iPod|BlackBerry|IEMobile|Opera Mini/i.test(navigator.userAgent);var R=(e,i=null,t=null)=>{t||(t=document.querySelector(“head”));let a=document.createElement(“script”);a.type=”text/javascript”,a.src=e,i&&(a.onload=i),t.appendChild(a)},L=()=>(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.state===”Subscribed”,A=()=>{let i=(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.state;return 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If you’re hosting or attending a Super Bowl party, food is a must — lots of it.
The Philly area offers an abundance of options for trays, platters, and à la carte items. From traditional Italian fare and charcuterie boards to savory Indian, Middle Eastern, and Argentinian party foods, the variety is impressive.
Here are some excellent spots around Philly for picking up a spread for your Super Bowl party. And since the Eagles aren’t playing, the hardest part of your day will be deciding what to eat.
You can’t go wrong with a pretzel tray, especially when it’s from a Philly favorite. Get the large size rivets party tray for 20 to 25 people with three dips or the classic Philly Pretzel-style beef pretzel dogs and dips for 20 to 25 guests. The pepperoni melts — basically a pretzel pizza — are another good option for large parties. Order at any of the various locations.
From quarter trays for 10 people to full ones serving 50 people, this Center City restaurant has all the veggie samosas, tandoori chicken, and pork ribs for you and your crew. Choose from lamb, chicken, vegetarian, and seafood entrees, rice and biryani items, soups and salads, and desserts, including gulab jamun and kheer. Mango lassi is also offered.
If you’re looking for a cheese tray or charcuterie board, it’s tough to beat this Philly institution. The shop has a catering arm for premade cheese boards, charcuterie trays, sandwich trays, crudités platters, colossal shrimp cocktail, desserts, and just about anything else you can think of — all available for pickup or delivery. You can also build your perfect board from a substantial selection of cheeses, cured meats, and other specialty items with the help of Di Bruno Bros.’ expert cheesemongers.
📍930 S. Ninth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147(locations throughout Philadelphia), 📞 215-922-2876 (or 215-665-1659 for catering), 📷 @DiBrunoBros, 🌐 dibruno.com
This Philly classic, established in 1923, offers an array of sweets including cannoli, cakes, sfogliatelle, and almond horns, along with roughly a dozen types of cookies. Termini’s cookie trays showcase eight varieties, such as pignoli, coconut macaroons, imbutitti, and scumetti, and can serve up to 35 people depending on the tray size. Biscotti boxes and cannoli trays are also available for those looking for more variety, or you can opt for a prepackaged cookie tin, which is available for shipping.
📍 1523 S. Eighth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147(locations also in Packer Park Shopping Center, Reading Terminal Market, Comcast Center, and Live! Casino & Hotel), 📞 215-334-1816, 📷 @Termini_Bros, 🌐 termini.com
Yes, Campo’s has been slinging good steaks since 1947, but the deli also has other extremely Philly party trays. The pretzel tray, for example, includes enough pretzels, Peanut Chews, whiz, and mustard to serve up to 30 people, or you can go full dessert mode with a variety platter of Tastykakes that will feed up to 25.
If you’re going the sandwich route to feed a crowd, this South Street spot has a ton of options ranging from a cheesesteak made with shaved rib-eye and truffle whiz to a vegan-friendly falafel sandwich with roasted beets. Woodrow’s signature sandwich tray comes ready to serve 10 people and includes three sandwiches of your choice. Or, if you want it a little more DIY, grab a hot tray of meatballs, coffee barbecue brisket, or hot pork that can feed up to 25 people and have folks serve themselves.
This South Philly institution, a 2024 James Beard semifinalist, has been delighting customers with specialties like cannoli, rum cake, and ricotta cookies since 1904. Among its standout party offerings is the Chip and Dip tray — but forget about tortillas. This innovative take on the traditional cannoli platter comes in two sizes, serving either 12-15 (small) or 20-25 people (large), and features crispy cannoli chips paired with chocolate cream, vanilla cream, and ricotta with dark chocolate chip dips, ensuring that soggy party cannoli are a thing of the past.
This Cherry Hill restaurant offers an array of party tray and catering options perfect for any gathering. Choices include tandoori lollipop lamb chops, veggie or paneer shashlik, veggie samosas, fresh naan, and more. For dessert, indulge in kheer and chai or chocolate pot de crème — most options are designed to serve up to 20 people, depending on the size selected. If you’re looking for something to quench your thirst, consider grabbing a bottle of mango lassi, house-made chai, or mint lemonade, each bottle serving 15.
This University City spot gets its name from a traditional Lebanese flatbread made with crispy dough and vegetarian or halal meats. And, of course, you can order them for a crowd topped with beef, lamb, labneh, cheese, and more. Or you can go with other savory options like beef or chicken shawarma, platters of dips like hummus and baba ghannouj, falafel, grape leaves, and more — and finish with trays of the cafe’s famous baklava; creamy, cheesy kanafe; or basboosa (a semolina cake soaked in syrup).
Grab a savory platter from chef Jezabel Careaga, like empanadas that run the gamut from spicy beef or chicken to ham and mozzarella or vegan-friendly lentils (they come in packs of 12 or in an assorted box of eight). Or, keep it sweet and check out Jezabel’s alfajores (a kind of Argentinian cookie sandwich filled with dulce de leche), egg custard tarts or torta de ricotta.
If the occasion calls for tomato pie, Corropolese is the place to go. You can grab quarter (eight slices) or full sheets (30 slices) of its famous tomato pie from any of four Pennsylvania locations, either plain or topped with add-ons like sweet peppers, fried eggplant, or pepperoni. If you want something a little more refined, the Norristown and Limerick locations offer catering options that can serve up to 24 people, with offerings like antipasto, bruschetta, prosciutto-wrapped melon, and a variety of hot hors d’oeuvres (72 hours’ notice required, pickup only).
Located in Springfield, Delaware County, this beloved local establishment offers an extensive selection of “red gravy” Italian dishes, hoagies, wraps, and finger foods. À la carte platter options feature full sheets of pizza (24 slices) in more than a dozen varieties, massive strombolis (a large serves 70 slices), hoagie trays (up to 32 pieces), and appetizers like bruschetta and fried ravioli. For events feeding 50 or more people, consider the catering packages, which can simplify menu planning for you.
To keep your parties a little smoky, head to Willow Grove for a bevy of BBQ platters, desserts, classic sides, and, of course, meat by the pound. Streetside has everything from baby back ribs, brisket, smoked wings, and pulled pork to prime rib, beef tenderloin, and smoked Italian sausage and leg of lamb — plus sides like half pans (serves 20 to 24 people) of baked beans, collard greens, smoked veggies, and more.
Folks out in the western ‘burbs probably know this longtime favorite, seeing as it’s been a destination for gourmet Italian fare and ingredients for roughly 40 years now. Like its urban counterpart Di Bruno Bros., Carlino’s list of offerings is almost endless. If you’re after game-day eats, you’ll want to get quarter tomato pie with football stencil, and six-inchstadium cannoli cake, miniature football eclairs, and chocolate dipped football strawberries.
It’s all about grazing at this Medford shop, which focuses on “grazing boards” and boxes. Choose from a ton of custom-made boards and takeaway boxes with a wide variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, bread, dried fruits, veggies, nuts, olives, and dips (boards, meanwhile, come with flowers and herbs for style points, and you can even keep the pine board they come on). Or, for something unique, check out the charcuterie cones. Note: Grazing platters start at $180 and require a week’s notice.
When it’s cold outside, there’s no better way to warm up than sipping on hot chocolate. But a cup that showcases chocolate’s incredible depth of flavor really levels up the experience. Why settle for a mug of Swiss Miss when you could sip on velvety cioccolata calda, piquant cinnamon and chili dark chocolate, or creamy chocolat chaud in cozy cafes across the city? Take your pick and grab a treat.
A hot chocolate at Rim Cafe made by Chara Bell Rowland, co-owner, in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Rim Cafe
The maximalist, eclectic cafe, known for its gelato, at the corner of 9th and Federal peddles an impressive variety of over-the-top hot chocolates. You’ll spend a good 10 minutes deciding between drizzles of Nutella or white chocolate shavings. Once you’ve selected a cocoa, an attendant will validate your choice with a show, pouring creamy, bubbly liquid chocolate over a dollop of whipped cream in a tall glass mug that spins atop a bird’s nest-shaped turntable made of solid chocolate. Once the glass is filled to the brim, they’ll grate a large cone-shaped chocolate over top for the final touch. The result: A sweet, thick, silky drink that feels like a hug.
Hot chocolate at La Maison Jaune in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
La Maison Jaune
You’re guaranteed to find real French chocolat chaud at Fitler Square’s newest cafe. Velvety hot chocolate served in a delicate mug is made the French way at La Maison Jaune: chocolate melted directly into hot milk. With foamy cream on top, the chocolat chaud here is reminiscent of the luscious, creamy drink you can find at a Parisian cafe. Order some freshly made macarons de Nancy (chewy almond cookies from Nancy, France) to dunk as you people-watch through the windows.
Equal parts milk and chocolate, the hot chocolate at Old City’s relatively new cafe is a great grab-and-go option. The balanced hot cocoa is pre-made and poured out quickly at Mocha Melt. But what sets it apart is the halal marshmallow topping. The thick, frosting-like marshmallow is piped in a swirl on the lip of the to-go cup and torched after the hot chocolate is added. The result is a s’mores take on hot chocolate.
The Signature drinking chocolate with marshmallow at the Shane Confectionary in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Shane Confectionery
Entering this Old City confectionary store is like venturing into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Elaborate, visually stunning chocolates in glass cases lead through the store to a backroom cafe. On a recent visit, owner Eric Douglass Berley, dressed in a top hat and waistcoat, awaited to take my hot chocolate order. He walked me through the four drinking chocolates: sweet and bold signature milk chocolate, rich and fruity house dark, piquant cinnamon and chili dark chocolate made with guajillo chiles and chile de arbol peppers, and mocha made with Herman’s Coffee. While you wait for your drink of choice, take a peek behind the counter to see massive chocolate melanger machines churning fresh cacao nibs into the liquid chocolate you’ll savor with each sip. And remember, there’s whipped cream and house-made marshmallows to add to your cup, if you ask nicely.
Chocolate is in the name of this South Philly cafe and restaurant, which means they know a thing or two about a good cup of hot cocoa. Take a sip of Cafe y Chocolate’s chocolate Oaxaca and it’s as if you’ve taken a bite into the creamiest milk chocolate bar — the sweet cocoa flavor is subtle until it melts on the tongue and fills your mouth with that smooth, milky taste. The chocolate hails from Mexico and is similar in flavor to the popular Nestlé Abuelita brand but less sweet, one server told me on my latest visit. Panela, an unrefined whole cane sugar, and cinnamon are added to the thick chocolate base that’s mixed with milk. And if you’re looking for a caffeinated version, the cafe con chocolate comes with two shots of espresso.
Sipping on smooth, silky Italian hot chocolate is possible any hour of the day at Center City’s Gran Caffè L’Aquila. To make the restaurant’s velvety cioccolata calda, a chocolate blend is whisked in milk on low heat until creamy. Served in a mug, the piping hot liquid chocolate is so thick, dark, and incredibly rich that you’ll need to pace yourself. Each sip coats your mouth in chocolate, and the whipped cream topping cuts through the bittersweet finish. It’s the perfect cup for those looking to experience just how rich chocolate can be.
On Chestnut Street, a few clicks on the self-order screens at this popular Central American restaurant will get you a cup of Guatemalan hot chocolate. The hot cocoa here leans heavier on the chocolate side, bringing forth the rich sweet notes of bitter Guatemalan dark chocolate bars melted into the milk with each sip. There’s no wrong order here: Enjoy the drink as is or add dulce de leche syrup for a nutty, caramel-like boost.
Together, Northern Liberties Business Improvement District and Fishtown District are hosting a massive, two-day bar crawl of more than two dozen restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, and hospitality spots offering discounted zero-proof cocktails. The event runs Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan, 18, allowing participants to explore the two neighborhoods at their own pace. No tickets or check-in are required.
“We are excited to kick off 2026 with our close friends in Fishtown for a post-holiday reset,” said Sydney Rexroad, Northern Liberties Business Improvement District executive director. “The Dry January Crawl … is a great opportunity to see a different side of creativity from your favorite spots.”
Bar Palmina will participate in the Northern Liberties/Fishtown Dry January Bar Crawl.
“This is the perfect way to start 2026,” said Marc D. Collazzo, Fishtown District executive director. “Our close connection provides a full, fun wellness experience in the hottest neighborhoods in the city. Come join us to sip, savor and smile.”
Along with a slate of regularly priced nonalcoholic cocktails or specialty beverages, folks can expect each participating establishment to have one or more special happy hour-priced nonalcoholic beverage, from $6 to $10.
Bar1010 will offer strawberry matcha mocktails for $10, beers and Moscow mules will run $6 to $8 at BarPalmina, and smoked mixed berry spritz will go for $10 at Jerry’s Bar, just to name a few.
But remember: “Mocktails are what you’ll see mostly on menus — they’re made up of syrups, shrubs, soda, juices, and the ABV falls at 0.0,” according to Nikki Graziano, owner of Bar Palmina. “Zero-proof cocktails are made with complex nonalcoholic spirits and bitters. They provide the same balance and craft as a regular alcoholic drink and their ABV ranges from 0.0-0.5% ABV.”
“There’s no better or worse, but the distinction is important to note for sensitivities as well as price points,” she said.
Front Street Cafe will participate in the Northern Liberties/Fishtown Dry January Bar Crawl.
In Northern Liberties:
Amina:1102 Germantown Ave., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bar1010:701 N. Second St., 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bourbon and Branch:705 N. Second St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
El Camino Real:1040 N. Second St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jerry’s Bar:129 W. Laurel St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Standard Tap:901 N. Second St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 700: 700 N. Second St., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Urban Village Brewing:1001 N. Second St., noon to 5 p.m.
Yards Brewing Co.:500 Spring Garden St., 11:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Expect nonalcoholic cocktails like this one, from Bar Palmina, at happy hour prices on Northern Liberties-Fishtown’s inaugural Dry January bar crawl.
In Fishtown:
Bar Palmina:1306 N. Front St., 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brewery ARS:2223 Frankford Ave., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Evil Genius Beer Company:1727 N. Front St., noon to 5 p.m.
Fette Sau:1208 Frankford Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Fishtown Social:1525 Frankford Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Frankford Hall:1210 Frankford Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Front Street Cafe: 1253 Front St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Garage Fishtown:100 E. Girard Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Johnny Brenda’s:1201 Frankford Ave., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mamajuana Cafe Philly:1000 Frankford Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Meyers Brewing:436 E. Girard Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Mural City Cellars:1831 Frankford Ave., noon to 5 p.m.
Nut Hut Saloon: Corner of Frankford Ave. and E. Norris St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pearl’s Fishtown:1444 Frankford Ave., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Percy Diner & Bar:1700 N. Front St., Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Stateside Vodka Bar:1700 N. Hancock St., noon to 5 p.m.
It’s that time again: You could win the rare whiskey lottery, and the deadline for entry is Friday.
State liquor license holders and Pennsylvania residents 21 and over have till 5 p.m. Jan. 16 to enter the Liquor Control Board’s latest “Limited-Release Lottery.” This time, 1,434 bottles are being offered in three lotteries. As usual, this is a chance to buy — not win — one of these prized whiskeys. If you’re a collector or serious about whiskey, it’s worth a shot.
There will be separate lotteries for each collection. Opt in for one, two, or all three lotteries. Only one entry per household, per drawing is allowed; duplicative entries will be disqualified.
Individual consumers and licensees entering the lottery must have an active account on Fine Wine & Good Spirits‘ website. Entries must include a valid store for delivery.
Lottery 1, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, retailing for $149.99, includes:
Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Year — nine bottles for individuals, three for licensees
Eagle Rare Straight Bourbon 17 Year — 18 for individuals, six for licensees
William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof — 45 for individuals, 15 for licensees
George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof — 45 for individuals, 15 for licensees
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof — 126 for individuals, 42 for licensees
Lottery 2, the Van Winkle collection, $129.99 to $449.99, includes:
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year — 32 for individuals, 10 for licensees
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year — 34 for individuals, 11 for licensees
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year — 34 for individuals, 11 for licensees
Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year — 118 for individuals, 39 for licensees
Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year — 580 for individuals, 193 for licensees
Lottery 3 features limited-edition Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. straight bourbon, bottled in bond, $149.99: 36 bottles for individuals and 12 for licensees.
Saban Kar walked into Falafel Time on South Street on a quiet Thursday afternoon with one mission: to try the restaurant’s exclusive crispy chicken shawarma wrap.
The West Philly resident had been searching for the crunchy, saucy shawarma sandwich of his native Antakya, Turkey, in the City of Brotherly Love. But it wasn’t until he came across a TikTok videothat he found a local restaurant serving this beloved handheld classic.
Thecracklyshawarma wrap is having a moment on the internet’s virality machine. In video after video, TikTok influencers and internet chefs across the country and in the Philly-area hold blistered rolled sandwiches stuffed with chicken pieces, thin pickle slices, and garlic sauce close to the camera, scraping and biting into toasted wraps for ASMR sounds.
After ordering two sandwiches, Kar explains the wrap style is popular because the added crispiness of the bread brings out the juices of the meat within the sandwich. “There’s not a lot of places in Philly who even warm up their breads for sandwiches,” he said. “[Toasting] just makes the bread taste better.”
At Falafel Time, it’s chef Sam Maymouna’s special sauce made of oil, shawarma spices, garlic, and lemon juice that brings forth the flavor.
He starts by tearing open a pita at the seams in a circular motion, then stacking the two halves on top of each other. The chef then adds a splatter of house-made garlic sauce, a heap of pickles, chicken shawarma freshly sliced off a rotating spit, and a heavy drizzle of a sweet-tart pomegranate balsamic.
Maymouna rolls all the fillingsintoa long, skinny baton and dips itin the special sauce. The wrap sizzles on the grill until golden brown and crackly.
Chef Sam Maymouna grills a chicken shawarma wrap at Falafel Time.
The viral sandwich isn’t new to the Syrian restaurant. In fact, the wrap has been on a “secret menu,” as Maymouna calls it, at the Graduate Hospital takeout shop since its inception in 2019. Customers in the know — typically Philadelphians from Syria and other Arab countries — seek out Syrian-style shawarma sandwich with a thinner saj bread or a pita in the now-viral crispy style.
“Arabs order [from] it because they know the Syrian way,” Maymouna said. “But now, [the crispy shawarma] got popular because of the viral videos.”
While the TikTok videos haven’t increased sales of the wrap by much yet, the online chatter is leading more Philadelphians to the South Street restaurant — Maymouna estimates he’s selling an additional 10 a day.
The crispy chicken shawarma wrap at Falafel Time.
Sitting at the counter, Kar took a big bite of the crunchy wrap as he waited for a second order he ordered to-go for his wife. “It is great, but it’s not similar to the ones back in Turkey — for us, there’s more of a red, tomato-like sauce.”
But for the West Philadelphian, it was still exciting to finally find a restaurant in Philly offering a similar sandwich, if not a replica of the one at home. “I’ll give them a seven out of 10‚” he said. “I’m happy I’m going to take one home.”
