#10 Six months in Philly
Our favorite spots (so far)
Now that we’ve been in Philadelphia for six months, it feels like the right time to share our favorites. These are the places we’ve visited multiple times—or wish we had already. This isn’t a comprehensive guide (Philly has tons of top-tier spots we have yet to eat and shop through), but a subset of our personal favorites. If you have discerning taste (read: great 😇), you’ll probably love these too.
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Casual Eats
Starting with Vietnamese: Philly has what NYC lacked—a proper Vietnamese bakery with grab-and-go eats. Ba Le Bakery is a godsend for comforting, inexpensive bites. My favorites are the Lemongrass pork summer rolls (with crunchy egg roll bits!), sticky rice with braised chicken and dried shrimp, and perfect deep-fried sesame balls with mung bean paste. For pho, Pho 75 is the spot. Cafe Diem serves a solid Bún Bò Huế, while Cafe Mi Quang offers the harder-to-find noodle dish, Mi Quang.
Other easy go-tos: Sally (likely the best Kale Caesar I’ve ever had), Middle Child Clubhouse (eating there is like catching up with an old friend), Picnic (the fried chicken sandwich is mind-blowing), and Meetinghouse + Royal Tavern (deeply satisfying burgers and martinis; Meetinghouse’s burger is Thursdays only).
Liberty Kitchen lived up to its viral Kale Caesar Chicken Cutlet sandwich hype—I make inappropriate noises eating that thing. Ditto for a loaded cheesesteak from Uncle Gus’ Steaks. And if you’re a beer nerd, Monk’s is a must.
For tacos: Hi-Lo is our dependable neighborhood spot (there’s a ridiculous smashburger taco that shouldn’t be as good as it is), and Taco Heart does a mean breakfast taco with creamy jalapeño salsa. Speaking of breakfast, Paffuto makes a chef’s kiss bacon, egg, and cheese.
Not exactly a casual meal, yet just as warm and inviting—when it comes to an “impress the out-of-town New Yorker” experience, Illata excels. Their dishes showcase unexpected flavor combinations that not only inspire but also hint at serious creativity and meticulous R&D behind the scenes. Multiple visits later, my eyes glaze over dreamily just thinking about it.
Chinese, Thai & Cambodian
We haven’t fully explored Chinese food yet, but we love Emei for Sichuan. Our one dim sum experience so far, at China Gourmet, was a trek but so worth it. Kalaya (Thai) and Mawn (Cambodian) also belong on any Philly food list.
Cocktails
For cocktails, we love Grace & Proper (so charming) and Lovers Bar (inside Friday Saturday Sunday). Both have been great pre-dinner spots. Let’s just say our nights here have occasionally resulted in some, uh, overenthusiastic imbibing. YOLO.
Pizza
CJ & D’s Trenton Tomato Pies: We wish we could go more, but their limited hours (they’re open 3 nights a week) and 90+ minute waits make it tough. Still, well worth the wait, and mustard on a pizza is a revelation (!). This was our introduction to a Trenton style pie (where the sauce goes on top of the cheese and toppings), which is uniquely different from what we typically get in NYC.
Fancy Nights Out
Standouts include Provenance (shoutout to their pastry/dessert program) and Royal Sushi Omakase (a delightful, indulgent experience that led to a serendipitous connection with fellow diners).
Bonus Picks
An hour outside Philly: Sergeantsville Inn (because I trust Chef Sean Gray’s cooking implicitly). And in Bala Cynwyd, Lark offers a cozy, intimate meal despite its grand space.
Coffee
This list is short because we’re obsessive about making pour-over and espresso at home. That said, we lucked out with our local, Thank You Thank You—a multi-roaster café with excellent coffee, consistent quality (our gold standard for café recommendations), and tax-and-tip-inclusive pricing (love). Their retail coffee selection has also introduced us to some fantastic roasters.
Also nearby: Chinatown’s Ray’s Cafe and Tea House, an old-school institution with $12-16 syphon coffee that feels like a warm hug.
Not in our hood but also great: Two Persons (in the Bok Building, best paired with Machine Shop pastries), Persimmon (our go-to in Fishtown), Forin Cafe (makes a killer fluffy breakfast sandwich), and Càphê Roasters, a Vietnamese specialty café. Their Cà Phê Sữa Da + fried chicken sandwich combo? Yes, please.
Bakeries & Treats
I already mentioned Machine Shop, but it deserves extra love—it’s probably the best pastry program in Philly. Their potato and cheddar boule barely lasts 30 minutes in our house. Mighty Bread also makes excellent loaves, mixing fun flavors with classics. I have yet to try their cafe menu, but everything on there reads well too.
Moving on to ice cream: 1-900-ICE-CREAM has me in a chokehold, especially their soft serve and weekly specials. We got utterly spoiled because the first twist combination we tried was pistachio and graham cracker—my ultimate flavor dream. In summer, John’s Water Ice is a must—the portions are extravagant, and I’m never mad about it. When I crave a cookie, Famous 4th Street in Reading Terminal has a seemingly endless variety of flavors to satisfy any kind of sweet tooth.
Shopping
I need to explore more, but so far:
Vestige, Rennes, Moore Vintage Archive – womenswear gems.
Quail Store – curated home goods & fun gifts for friends with excellent taste.
Omoi – dangerous for my wallet; I always leave with 10 unexpected things.
Another Corner, Brickbat Books, Binding Agents – for book lovers (Binding Agents is all cookbooks!).
For groceries, I’m partial to Headhouse Farmers’ Market on Sundays and Riverwards Produce Market. Surprise standout: Herman’s Coffee has a stellar pantry section (they carry Martelli, one of my favorite pasta brands).
For self-care, the only routine I’ve stuck to is getting my nails done at Atelier Anaiis. Anh is simply the best—her attention to detail and genuine care for her clients make every visit feel special.
Still on Our List
Restaurants: My Loup (finally next week!), Zahav, Suraya, Irwin’s, Little Walter’s, Say No More, Fountain Porter… and counting. The food scene here is seemingly endless.
Cultural spots: Rodin Museum, a Barnes Foundation revisit, and the highly anticipated Calder Gardens opening later this year.
For design lovers: The new Moderne Gallery showroom looks prolific for Nakashima fans. (Still dreaming of owning a Nakashima lounge chair one day…)
More to come!
I am late to the chat, but would recommend White Yak in Roxborough for Tibetan. And our favorite byob Italian that is tiny but never disappoints is Porcini on Sansom Street. It’s on the other side of town from where you are but worth the stroll, especially on a lovely spring evening. Of note, they are not open on Sunday but if you don’t feel like cooking on Monday, they got you covered.
only 6 months! it feels longer...
Thanks for all the recs...Illata was amazing (and friendly with "extra" wine bottles), and Mawn has inspired me to explore Cambodia-town here in Long Beach more thoroughly....