17 restaurants that define Philadelphia dining

Philadelphia’s vibrant dining scene is right up there with historical landmarks on the list of reasons visitors come to town. The Philly food world just as important as the city’s renowned museums and concert halls, and chefs are some of our biggest celebrities.

A Top Chef winner in East Passyunk serves French American fare in a jewel box-like space. A group-friendly Chinatown favorite dishes up some of the city’s best—and spiciest—Sichuan fare. In Cedar Park, a soul food joint doubles as a beloved community hangout.

The city’s matrix of outstanding restaurants is as diverse as the people who live here, ranging from chef-driven, fine-dining spots to laid-back sports bars and cafes. Read on for a guide to 17 restaurants essential to Philadelphia.

Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme

17 Restaurants

Updated March 30, 2023

Restaurants:	Parc, Booker's Restaurant and Bar, Morimoto…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:	French, American, Japanese…
Neighborhoods:	Rittenhouse Square, University City, Center City…

Parc

$$$$

French

Rittenhouse Square

4.8

15333 reviews

Prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr—known for hits such as Buddakan and Le Coucou around the country—got his start in Philadelphia. His flair for designing the full dining experience is best showcased at Parc, a Parisian restaurant literally built from pieces of restaurants imported from France. The atmosphere, both inside and outside, is spectacular: Parc’s bustling sidewalk tables sit across the street from Rittenhouse Square Park, and the restaurant takes full advantage of its lush setting. There’s no better place to enjoy a flawlessly cooked French omelet or steak frites while getting in some people-watching. Be sure to grab a baguette on the way out; Parc’s onsite bakery is one of the best in the city.

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Takeout available

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Booker's Restaurant and Bar

$$$$

American

University City

4.5

1226 reviews

Named for Booker Wright, a server at a whites-only restaurant in 1960s Mississippi, Booker’s is more than just a place for great soul food—it’s a true third place and hang-out spot that reflects its West Philly neighborhood. It’s an ideal place to relax with friends over a craft beer or signature cocktail, such as the restaurant’s riff on a Moscow mule that swaps vodka for house bourbon. The community vibes are just as enticing as the locally famous fried chicken and blackened catfish.

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Morimoto

$$$$

Japanese

Center City

4.7

6274 reviews

Philly doesn’t tolerate celebrity chef outposts unless they can back up their name with some serious game. Morimoto has impressed sushi connoisseurs from its early days when the Iron Chef himself sometimes appeared behind the Old City sushi bar. Thankfully, the kitchen is on point whether or not the headlining chef is in the house. That means Morimoto’s omakase—the chef’s choice menu, known to feature dishes such as whitefish carpaccio and black cod miso—is worth the splurge.

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Takeout available

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Laurel

$$$$

Spanish

Downtown Charleston

4.6

157 reviews

Philly has seen more than its fair share of Top Chef talent—winners and fan favorites from Bravo’s acclaimed reality series have made their restaurants home here over the years. But Season 11 winner Nick Elmi’s jewel box, Laurel, is extra special. Chef Elmi often makes rounds in the intimate but comfortable dining room. His modern French American menu set high expectations for Laurel soon after opening in 2013, and the restaurant continues to set the standard for fine dining on East Passyunk’s restaurant row and beyond. The six-course tasting menu (there are no a la carte options) changes seasonally and is always full of surprises—plates could include brown butter-roasted monkfish with fermented chanterelle mushrooms or braised lamb coppa.

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Chickie's & Pete's South Philadelphia

$$$$

Seafood

South Philly

4.5

577 reviews

Chickie’s and Pete’s is a classic pre-game and post-game stop for beers, cheesesteaks, and tomato pie in the shadow of South Philly’s sports stadiums. Its sprawling bar food menu offers something for everyone, but no visit here is complete without the restaurant’s famous crab fries. There’s no actual crab on these crinkle-cut fries. Instead, the irresistible cheese sauce on top is generously seasoned with Old Bay.

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Le Virtu

$$$$

Italian

East Passyunk Avenue

4.8

1886 reviews

Co-owners Francis Cratil-Cretarola and Cathy Lee bring the traditional dishes of Abruzzo, Italy to a neighborhood renowned for its Italian American red-sauce restaurants. Platters of antipasto, handmade pasta, and rustic braised ragus have been menu hallmarks through several chef changes over the years. Warm colors and wooden tables make the dining room and bar comfortable places to linger over a meal. And the large, garden-clad patio is one of the prettiest places to enjoy an al fresco meal in Philly.

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JG SkyHigh All Day Dining & Lounge

$$$$

Contemporary French

Center City

4.7

1862 reviews

JG SkyHigh, one of celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Philadelphia outposts, is among the city’s most dramatic restaurant spaces. Diners are whisked up from the street to the top of the Four Seasons Hotel in Center City in a glass elevator that offers panoramic city views. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide an unforgettable backdrop for celebratory cocktails or a special occasion meal. It’s a fitting atmosphere to splurge on Osetra caviar, or you could go for something more casual but equally good, such as spicy sausage, kale, and pecorino pizza.

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Charlie was a sinner.

$$$$

Tapas / Small Plates

Center City

4.7

2302 reviews

Charlie was a sinner. is the creation of plant-based chef and restaurateur Nicole Marquis. Her dark and cozy vegan cocktail lair serves up some of Philadelphia’s freshest drinks, thanks to ingredients such as hibiscus and mint, plus the city’s most inventive dishes. The zucchini “crab cake” sliders are a menu mainstay, along with a “ricotta” toast that could charm even the most ardent dairy lover. Enjoy it all against the backdrop of black-and-white movies, which flicker on the walls.

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White Dog Cafe - University City

$$$$

Contemporary American

University City

4.6

4956 reviews

The White Dog Cafe has been an icon of the local food movement in Philadelphia since opening its original West Philly location in 1983 as one of the first restaurants to celebrate seasonal ingredients from the region’s farms. When founder and farm-to-table pioneer Judy Wicks sold the business in 2009, she preserved the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability. White Dog serves as an unofficial hub for the college campuses of University City and always attracts a diverse range of diners, from students to West Philly elders. Salads showcase the farm-fresh produce and local cheeses, and the mushroom soup, made with produce from nearby Kennett Square (the self-proclaimed mushroom capital of the world) is a must.

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EMei

$$$$

Chinese (Sichuan)

Chinatown

4.6

105 reviews

With a dining room full of large round tables topped with rotating trays, Emei resembles other Chinatown restaurants. But its bold, regional flavors make it stand out from its neighbors. The restaurant has served some of the Philadelphia area’s spiciest and best Sichuan food since 2011. Chef Yongcheng Zhao has focused on the food of this Chinese province for his 40-year career. Whether your tastes run in the direction of pork intestine or Chongqing spicy chicken, a stir-fried dish spiked with dried Sichuan chile peppers, you’ll find appealing options on the large menu. Emei is at its most fun when you can order lots of dishes to share, so it’s great for groups.

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Amada PHL

$$$$

Spanish

Old City

4.7

8140 reviews

When James Beard Award winner Jose Garces left Stephen Starr’s nest in 2005 to launch his own splashy restaurant in Old City, it was a seismic event in the Philadelphia food world. For years, Amada was the buzziest, most sought-after reservation in town. And though newer, shinier restaurants have since arrived, the joy of a Spanish tapas night at Amada hasn’t faded. Start with a spread of charcuterie and cheeses before moving on to small plates such as garlic shrimp and albondigas (meatballs) that have been on the menu from the beginning. The Garces restaurant group has grown quite a bit since 2005, but Amada still holds up as its flagship.

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The Olde Bar

$$$$

Seafood

Old City

4.5

1337 reviews

The Olde Bar melds flavors of the moment with longstanding tradition and is set in a space that once occupied a famous 19th-century fish house, Old Original Bookbinder’s. The Olde Bar’s drinks menu channels that past, focusing on classic cocktails such as penicillins, and reliably ranks on any list of best happy hours in town. The raw bar, especially oysters on the half shell, is a menu highlight. There’s also an entire section dedicated to lobster dishes. Bookbinder’s was said to have the largest indoor lobster tank in the world, so don’t miss the lobster pot pie.

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Pumpkin BYOB

$$$$

Contemporary American

Rittenhouse Square

4.7

2350 reviews

Every neighborhood in Philadelphia has its long-treasured, mom-and-pop-run BYOB. Helmed by owners chef Ian Moroney and Hillary Bor, Pumpkin embodies the spirit of this quintessential Philly restaurant. The 26-seat dining room is small, but the addition of a covered and heated outdoor space has expanded options. Pumpkin serves a three-course menu based on local ingredients that changes daily. Expect fresh salads, housemade pastas, plenty of seafood, and homey desserts, such as goat cheesecake and chocolate torte with passion fruit.

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Experiences available

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Bud & Marilyn's

$$$$

American

Center City

4.6

4726 reviews

Chef Marcie Turney descends from restaurant people; her grandparents (the titular Bud and Marilyn) owned a restaurant in Ripon, Wisconsin, where Turney grew up. This restaurant celebrates her family, Midwestern hospitality, and classic American comfort foods. Vinyl booths, vintage-inspired tableware, and retro TVs all add to the throwback theme. Crispy cheese curds made from Wisconsin cheddar and the housemade funfetti cake are the must-order menu items for a classic American experience.

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Fork - Philadelphia

$$$$

Contemporary American

Old City

4.7

4579 reviews

For 25 years, Fork restaurant has set the standards in Philadelphia. Visionary restaurateur Ellen Yin has guided the restaurant through numerous incarnations, anticipating ever-shifting culinary moods and trends. One thing unites all of Fork’s eras: From the beginning, there’s been a focus on working with local farmers and doing sustainable business. The current menu offers a mix of creative and familiar plates. Look for Brussels sprouts topped with smoked grapes and sliced pistachios, as well as a leveled-up cheeseburger (topped with raclette and caramelized onions) with fries. It’s a chameleon of a place that’s somehow perfect for both celebrating a special occasion or grabbing a bite at the bar on a random weeknight.

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Experiences available

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Tria Rittenhouse

$$$$

Wine Bar

Rittenhouse Square

4.8

347 reviews

This laidback wine bar was built as a place to celebrate all things fermented—especially the trio of wine, beer, and cheese. Tria has been the place to discover the most compelling vintages and unusual cheeses in town since its inception. Cheese boards are created by Tenaya Darlington, aka “Madame Fromage,” a local cheese expert, author, and educator. There are also ample soups, snacks, salads, and sandwiches. The bustling scene and people-watching opportunities—the restaurant and sidewalk seats are perched on one of the neighborhood’s liveliest corners—are almost as big of a draw as the food and drink.

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El Vez

$$$$

Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern)

Center City

4.7

6463 reviews

El Vez, another Stephen Starr stunner, has been a popular spot for happy hours that become nights out since opening in 2003. Large booths accommodate groups of friends and colleagues who gather over platters of nachos, bowls of guacamole, Mexican chopped salads, and taco plates. The real draw here, though, is the drinks menu, which includes a variety of margaritas, all balanced and strong. Don’t miss the large selection of agave spirits, including flights for those who’d like to sample a variety of options.

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