Frankie Ramirez
Photograph by Bre Furlong Amá is a master class on the geographical diversity of Mexican cuisine, and chef Frankie Ramirez is constantly researching ways to transport diners to different corners of his home country. He’s gone to great lengths to execute everything at his new restaurant perfectly, from flying his mother and mother-in-law in from Mexico to teach him how to nixtamalize corn to sourcing chapulines for the signature sotol cocktail. As soon as you start your meal with the chips and salsas, featuring six regional variations, you’ll see that his academic approach is a mouthwatering testament to how much he’s grown as a chef. 101 West Oxford Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Little Water
Randy and Amanda Rucker’s new Rittenhouse spot explores everything the couple loves about a life spent close to the land, close to food, and in those intersections where earth and water meet. The smartest dish on a menu full of culinary digressions is the highbrow/lowbrow combination of an excellent peekytoe crab salad mounted atop a sharp-edged, perfectly architectural block of golden hash brown. The best is a piece of halibut, beautifully cooked and set adrift on a cloud of aerated potatoes. There’s nothing here that isn’t brilliant, considered, and heavy with personal history. 261 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
South Jersey Smoke House’s Pastrami Burnt Ends
The sweet and peppery aroma of pastrami. The drool-inducing smoky flavor of burnt ends. The moment one of these morsels hits your palate, all your senses will ignite. This small-batch purveyor pops up at farmers markets, local grocers, and other small businesses across South Jersey. So track them down and grab an order or two, because once you start eating, it’s hard to stop.
Honeysuckle Restaurant
Photograph by Theresa Regan Philly chefs have toyed with retro comforts for years, and some recent creations bring beloved throwbacks to adult plates. Take the McDonald’s Money burger at Honeysuckle Restaurant. This iteration gives you two all-beef patties, a caviar remoulade, Cooper Sharp, malt-vinegar onions, and paper-thin slices of shaved black truffle, all accented with literal 24-karat gold leaf — a perfect glorification of the mundane, a wry commentary on class consciousness with every bite. 631 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Doom
Photograph by Theresa Regan Doom is cranking a childhood classic up to 11. Meet this year’s hot dog with attitude: a mapo-style pork and tofu chili dog on a split-top bun. Get two, chase ’em with a unicorn-purple Cosmic Brownie ice cream sandwich, and you’ll understand exactly why this isn’t merely a fad in Philly. It’s the way we eat. 421 North 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Loretta’s
Photograph by Theresa Regan Over in Head House Square, Loretta’s makes childhood treats for an adult’s palate. A standout is the Constellation Brownie — a decadent, fudgy spin on the Cosmic Brownie that chef-owner Kelsey Bush enjoyed as a kid. The version here has a rich, not-too-sweet chocolate ganache, topped with colorful candy like that on the Little Debbie’s brownie for a dose of nostalgia. Enjoyed in what feels like your cool grandma’s house, filled with whimsical retro decor, it’ll take you back to 1999. 410 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
The $8 Carrot at Messina Social Club
Crafted by former head bartender Mike Nimmo, this bev is a booze-free rendition of Messina’s $16 Carrot (which has aquavit and gin), made with carrot, lemon, juniper syrup, and black pepper, and finished with a playful dill garnish. It’s a little spicy, herby, and tart — an exciting ode to the garden’s most versatile root vegetable. 1533 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Kiddo
You just left the office. You need a little something to take the edge off. You roll up to Kiddo, sit at the bar, and let your cares fall away with half-priced seasonal pastas like green garlic ravioli and ramp and smoked garlic pesto bucatini, plus a drink that costs $10 or less. The happy hour carbs are on offer four days a week. 1138 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Downtime Bakery
What began in 2022 as a pop-up operation out of Dayna Evans’s home is now a full-fledged bakery in Mount Airy. Evans and her partner, Sam Carmichael, serve a cornucopia of sourdough bagels, breads, and sweet and savory treats, made with local grains. While the bakery is known for its excellent bread, you can’t go wrong elsewhere on the menu — and thanks to Downtime’s staggered baking schedule, there’ll be something fresh, guaranteed. 6624 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Supérette
The best bars transport you somewhere else. Supérette is one of them. Slide into a seat at the bar or a table, order a glass of wine from a list handpicked by sommelier Kaitlyn Caruke, and add bites from the Euro-leaning menu — and definitely don’t skip the soft serve. After a while, South Philly will start to feel like the South of France. 1538 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Provenance
Photograph by Ed Newton Twenty or so dishes; artistic, architectural plates; top-shelf ingredients; complex flavors; a kitchen built around a custom imported stove with a price tag like a luxury car; and a staff featuring some of the most talented cooks in the region — all these hallmarks make for one of the most daring (and expensive) tasting menus in the city right now. Is it a marathon? Absolutely. But it’s worth experiencing for yourself, if only to see how remarkable Philly’s food scene has become, and to get a glimpse of where it’s headed. 408 South 2nd street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Mycopolitan
In the basement of a warehouse in North Philly, there’s an urban mushroom farm cranking out more than 1,200 pounds of mushrooms per week. We’re talking meaty lion’s manes, nutty pioppinos, hearty king trumpets, and other specialties. Find them on menus and at farmers markets across the city, bring some tasty fungi home with their farm share, or book a tour of the facility.
Fiore
In a city filled to the brim with excellent Italian fare, Fiore has carved out its own niche. The modern Italian cafe serves some of Philly’s most beautiful (and technically perfect) pastries, pastas, and gelati. Go for a chocolate cream-filled bomboloni and a shakerato at breakfast, or a chicken parm on rustic bread at lunch. And go back for dinner, order all the house-made pastas, and BYO bottle of Trebbiano to feel fully transported to the Eternal City. 2413 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Mercantile 1888
You’re just a PATCO ride away from relaxing with a THC-infused beverage — and yes, it’s legal. At Collingswood’s two-year-old N/A bar, add drops of hemp-derived THC to spins on your favorite cocktails, wines, beers, coffee, matcha, or kombucha. All the drinks — whether you sip them in the cozy bar or grab a couple of cans or bottled “spirits” to go — give you all the pleasures of dank without the stank. 765 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108
Good Hatch
Photograph by Ed Newton So you had too much to drink last night. Drag yourself over to this South Philly breakfast spot for all that your hangover demands. The menu is sizable, with classics like eggs Benedict, mixed-berry French toast, and lox bagels, as well as indulgent choices like their Ultimate Sammies — jam-packed sandwiches made with two fried eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese, arugula, spicy mayo, and a hash brown on a plush brioche bun. And don’t worry, they don’t close till 4 p.m. 1709 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Collective Creamery
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the dizzying array of choices at your local cheese counter, opt for this subscription box. Every month, you get a selection of distinctive, rind-blowing styles from small-batch creameries, curated by cheesemakers from Birchrun Hills and Valley Milkhouse Creamery. Complete with tasting notes and pairing recommendations, it’s a good way for curd nerds to up their cheeseboard game.
Jamie Harrison Rubin
Photograph by Linette Messina Jamie Harrison Rubin, wine director at Southwark and Ambra, brings his passion for sustainability and obscure, small-batch wines to life every Monday night at Winewark, a casual, hip-hop-soundtracked wine hangout at Southwark in Queen Village. What started as a pandemic-era idea to share his personal cellar stash has evolved into a vibrant weekly event, drawing wine lovers of all levels for a fun, unpretentious exploration of rare and eco-conscious vintages. With Rubin at the helm, Winewark blends serious wine knowledge with a laid-back vibe — no snobbery, just good pours and good company. Read more in our Best of Philly spotlight. 701 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Pop’s Bun Shop
Savory, sweet, rolled, iced, stuffed with sausage or cheese — it doesn’t matter which perfectly proofed mound you point to at this Italian Market corner takeout window, you’ll taste, with each bite, all the love that goes into them. (Expect a line, naturally.) 800 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Jim’s West
While the touristy South Street Jim’s was under renovation after a fire, leaving the underwhelming and generally rude Delco Jim’s in Springfield to be the only one around, a guy who grew up around the corner from the original in deep West Philly reopened that first location. An amusing legal battle ensued, and Jim’s West emerged victorious, in the court of law and the court of Philly Mag opinion. The cheesesteaks here are packed with the correct cheese-to-meat ratio and just the right amount of salt and greasy deliciousness. Pro tip: Don’t skip the banana pudding. 431 North 62nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19151
A Man Full of Trouble
Succession Fermentory has a new tasting room in the historic, pre-Revolutionary War tavern, A Man Full of Trouble, which recently reopened. Succession grows, sources, and forages ingredients within 75 miles of its Chester County brewery, and this year’s Best New Old Bar offers a selection of farmhouse ales — including rustic saisons and fruited sours — fit for a Colonial-era rabble-rouser. 127 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Almanac
Photograph by Bre Furlong Imbibing nature’s rhythms is at the core of Almanac’s ethos. Almanac captures the gradual changes of the seasons with creations built around ingredients that are foraged or harvested locally. But beyond the rotating menu of meticulously crafted drinks, the izakaya-inspired bites, swanky decor, moody lighting, and buzzy atmosphere make for a captivating experience. 310 Market Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Pray Tell
Tom Caruso has worked in wine-making regions up and down the West Coast — from Sonoma, California, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where he originally opened Pray Tell. But his viticultural journey actually started in South Philly, where he made wines with his grandfather using a hand-cranked destemmer and basket press. Once a cult favorite in Oregon, Pray Tell is now bringing its Pacific daydream style to Kensington with elegant, low-intervention vintages that remind us that excellent wine begins with excellent grapes. 1615 North Hancock Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Cider Belly Hard Cider
Cider Belly Hard Cider approaches apples with a similar level of artistry. This year’s Best Cidery sources apples from local orchards to create crisp, dry European-style ciders with tart, floral expressions of Pennsylvania’s terroir. Take a sip of their signature Wissahickon and ponder the essence of our natural world. 8005 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Sonny’s Cocktail Joint
When Sonny’s replaced confused eatery the Cambridge, it quickly became one of our favorite cocktail, well, joints in the city, in part because of its utter lack of pretension, its fun spirit, and one of the better back yards of any bar around. It closed in 2022 after a fire but reopened earlier this year magically better than ever, and not just because they serve a hot dog tower (!) next to classy but never fussy drinks. (Editor's Note: After Best of Philly went to print, Sonny's was forced to close again due to flooding. Please hurry back!) 1508 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Sorellina
The sister operation to chef Joe Cicala’s fine-dining restaurant Cicala at the Divine Lorraine couldn’t be more different from its sibling across the lobby. Where Cicala is slow, Sorellina is lively. Where Cicala is formal, Sorellina is drop-in casual. Where Cicala glorifies the history and traditions of Italian cooking, Sorellina embraces the anarchy and street-punk sensibilities of young, revolutionary Italian pizzaiolos with its all-electric ovens, high-hydration crusts, and Italian hip-hop on the radio. Drop by for a burrata, mortadella, and pistachio pesto pie, a couple of Aperol-heavy cocktails, and a plate of ’nduja battered and fried like sweet-and-sour chicken. 699 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Jaffa Bar
Photograph by Ed Newton Michael Solomonov’s towering two-story oyster bar was built for large parties. Upstairs has a chilled-out, fine-dining vibe; downstairs is all gin cocktails, soul music, platters of oysters, and yellowtail crusted in pastrami spice. No matter what kind of night you’re looking for — or how deep you roll — Jaffa has a place for you. 1625 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Izzy’s Cocktail Bar
It’s easy to find Izzy’s. All you have to do is look for the crowd of people milling around on the sidewalk next to Ardmore Music Hall, waiting to get a seat at this small, dimly lit, and tightly packed izakaya. This is a place for grazing — for crowding up at the loud bar, knocking down plates of excellent hand rolls and birria bao, washing them down with custom cocktails from the Japanese-influenced list, and then moving on. If you need a place to rally the troops for a night out or to grab a bite before a show, Izzy’s is exactly what you’re looking for. 35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
La Baja
Dionicio Jiménez made a name for himself at Cantina La Martina, doing a recognizable, fairly traditional Mexican cafe menu touched here and there with bursts of international fusion. But at La Baja — his new restaurant in Ambler — he has found the freedom to cook a menu built entirely around his varied history. From burratina cheese with black mole and kampachi tostadas with uni and Persian cucumbers to risotto with short rib braised in Mexican chocolate, it is a one-man canon, a purely biographical cuisine. 9 North Main Street, Ambler, PA 19002
Soho Sushi & Ramen
Sure, Philly now has multiple options for hours-long, multicourse, brilliantly assembled (and wickedly expensive) omakase “experiences.” But sometimes what you really need is just a plastic takeout container of spicy tuna maki and some hot, greasy gyoza to make everything in the world seem a little bit better. The best place to score exactly that (plus some excellent shoyu ramen, chirashi, harumaki, and crab and avocado salad) is this small sushi spot tucked in the back of a strip mall in Royersford. 33 West Ridge Pike, Suite 345, Royersford, PA 19468
Midnight Pasta Party
Photograph by Jeff Fusco There comes a point in the night, between sips of wine and crooning along to Sinatra, when the pressure to master your pasta-making technique fades and you begin to fully embrace imperfection. Sure, your pappardelle may be misshapen, but that doesn’t matter when owner Natalia Lepore Hagan (pictured left) dramatically unveils a long table (with a red-and-white checkered tablecloth) and invites the class to sit for a candlelit Italian meal of focaccia, seasonal salad, and, of course, midnight pasta. 5401 Tacony Street, BLDG 39 at the Arsenal, Philadelphia, PA 19137
Carl
Dine like an industry insider in the home of husband-and-wife duo chef Ian Moroney and neuroscience professor/serial restaurant-goer Sharon Thompson-Schill. The menu: an elaborate and ever-changing scavenger hunt featuring the region’s best ingredients. The dinner party: an intimate meal shared with like-minded gourmands who enjoy what’s on the plate as much as the stories behind it. Come for a thoughtfully crafted meal. Stay for the jovial company.
Persimmon Coffee’s Friday Coffee Club
The morning java routine is grounded in consistency. The Friday Coffee Club routine, however, is rooted in the philosophy that we need a little excitement in the monotony of everyday life. This subscription lets you brew Persimmon’s single-origin, Philly-roasted coffee of the month at home so you can try something new every once in a while. 11 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Cacia’s Bakery
For those nights when you just don’t feel like cooking, it’s worth spelunking into Cacia’s freezers to stock up on their premade dinners. While there are multiple locations, the spot in Haddonfield is our favorite for stuffed shells filled with zesty ricotta; massive meatballs made with beef, veal, and pork; and escarole soup with pungent greens and smaller meatballs bobbing in a garlicky broth. Sure, they’re frozen, but when reheated, they’re still in the same league as your nonna’s home cooking. 26 South Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
The Pub
When this iconic South Jersey steakhouse closed in 2024 for massive renovations to the Tudor-style building, we were a little worried that it was going to lose its old-school charm and its vast salad bar, the latter being a rarity in the current restaurant world. We’re happy to say it kept both — and the homemade bread, garlicky Caesar salad, pickled beets, three-bean salad, and all the cheese on the buffet will make their triumphant return this fall, after the Pub’s summer break. 7600 Kaighn Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ 08109
Nicky’s and Ant’s
For a while, the best cheesesteak in the region was being served out of a truck at a small brewpub in Gilbertsville. But when Nick Moccia and Anthony Billetta packed up and left Sunset Hill Brewing for a brick-and-mortar location inside the High Street Terminal in Pottstown, their new place, Nicky’s and Ant’s, became the spot. The sandwiches are massive — the kind where the meat that falls out of the side is enough to fill a second sandwich. The steak is rough-chopped, gooey with melted Cooper Sharp; the bread is ridiculously good; and together it’s worthy of this cheesesteak-obsessed city. 300 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
Cloud Cups
Photograph by Jeff Fusco Rich red velvet cheesecake, French toast stracciatella with chocolate ribbons swirled throughout, and classics like creamy vanilla are among the extensive repertoire of owner Galen Thomas. (He’s created more than 100 flavors.) Think of Cloud Cups as you would jazz: You’ve got a gelato maestro who has a lot of notes to play with, and the result is music to your taste buds. Locations in Kensington and Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA
Little Walter’s
The contentment that comes from chef Michael Brenfleck’s ode to his family’s Polish home cooking isn’t just about the food on the plate. It isn’t all about the delicious, handcrafted, smoky pierogi, the thick slabs of roasted pork shoulder, the marinated heirloom tomatoes and cubes of pickled beet dressed in dill pesto. It’s also the laughter in the dining room, the heavy pours at the bar, the Grandma’s-china-hutch feel of the mismatched plates, and the honest enthusiasm of the staff, who know how good your dinner is going to be before it ever hits your table. 2049 East Hagert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Euro Market
As the name might suggest, this small grocer focuses on items from Europe, whether you’re looking for jars of Balkan-style grilled eggplant, an unbelievable variety of cheeses (including more brands of feta than we knew existed), the Romanian vegetable spread Zacuscă, or a bevy of cured meats. Plus, there’s an extensive olive bar (no sampling!) and freshly made spanakopita and baklava as well as a Canadian bacon breakfast sandwich that’s much better than it needs to be. 26 South Sproul Road, Broomall, PA 19008
Artesano Cafe
More like best coffee-plant-art-decor shop with an on-site food truck and a recently opened bar. With all that’s going on at this spacious and dynamic cafe, they still never slack on the food (like the breakfast sandwiches featuring their house-made spicy maple butter) or drinks (like the turmeric latte). You could spend an entire day here, and once you take a seat on the picturesque patio under the historic Manayunk Bridge, you just might. 109 Green Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19127
The Window
For years, the operators of Bob & Barbara’s saw people bringing in takeout food and eating it at the bar. After all, the South Street dive didn’t serve food, and you need something to soak up all those Citywide Specials. So they opened this appropriately named takeout window just next door, where they sling sick-good hangover helpers like patty melts, grilled cheese, and breakfast sammies long into the night. 1505 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Mickey’s Tavern
At some point, being considered a “dive bar” became a really cool selling point. So you have bars that try to be a dive without actually, you know, being one. But not here. Local rock musicians, Ecuadorean immigrants, Irish contractors, dart-obsessed patrons, and people who’ve probably been hitting the sauce a little earlier than they should be all rub elbows amid the faint haze of cigarette smoke, the smell of whatever someone is eating from the nearby Wawa, and the sound of Jeopardy! or whatever game is on, washed down with $3 Rolling Rock pints and a general spirit of boozy camaraderie. Bonus: Karaoke night is an absolute hoot. 129 South State Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082
Bar Palmina
After embracing sobriety following a liver transplant in 2022, Nikki Graziano found Philly’s nonalcoholic options lacking. So she took to her home bar with a slew of zero-proof spirits, a cocktail shaker, and a mission to make drinks she wanted to sip on. The result? Bar Palmina, where Graziano serves thoughtfully crafted zero-proof cocktails like a zingy yuzu negroni and the Brown Dog, which combines a booze-free bourbon with Earl Grey tea and orange. 1306 North Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122