10 Foods You Have to Eat in Philadelphia

Philadelphia doesn't do food trends. It does food arguments. Whiz or provolone? Pat's or Dalessandro's? Roast pork or cheesesteak? The city's iconic eats aren't Instagrammed into existence — they're argued over at counters, passed down through families, and defended with a loyalty that borders on religious. This is not a city where the hottest new fusion concept matters. What matters is whether DiNic's put enough broccoli rabe on your sandwich.

This guide covers the 10 foods that define Philadelphia — the ones that a first-time visitor absolutely must eat and that locals never stop eating. Every address, every claim, every Michelin designation here has been verified. No padding, no filler, no places we haven't personally confirmed.

1 & 2. The Cheesesteak Debate

There is no single "best cheesesteak in Philadelphia" — there is only your side of the argument. Pat's King of Steaks at 1237 E Passyunk Ave invented the cheesesteak in 1930 when Pat Olivieri sliced some beef onto a hot dog roll and a cab driver asked for one. The location at the corner of 9th and Passyunk is still open 24 hours, still cash-only, and still serves the original: thinly sliced ribeye on a seeded Amoroso roll.

Forty minutes away in Roxborough, Dalessandro's at 600 Wendover St is the 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand pick — the one food critics quietly tell you is better. The sandwiches are enormous, the line wraps around the building on weekends, and they're still cash-only, no frills, no seating. The meat is chopped finer than Pat's, the cheese melts deeper into the bread, and the whole experience feels like a neighborhood secret even though everyone knows.

3. The Roast Pork Sandwich

DiNic's Roast Pork at Reading Terminal Market was named the best sandwich in America by the Travel Channel — and for once, the superlative is earned. Long-cooked pork shoulder, sharp provolone, and sautéed broccoli rabe on a fresh Italian roll. The pork is juicy enough that the bread goes translucent at the bottom. Get there before 2pm; they run out.

4 & 5. The Pizza Wars

Philadelphia has two Michelin Bib Gourmand pizzerias and they couldn't be more different. Pizzeria Beddia at 1313 N Lee St in Fishtown is the sit-down, natural-wine, wood-fired-oven version — Joe Beddia's pies are blistered, seasonal, and beautiful. The dining room is small and the wait is real; go on a weeknight if you can.

Angelo's Pizzeria at 736 S 9th St in the Italian Market is the opposite — a counter-service South Philly institution with thick-crust square pies, no wine list, and a line out the door on Saturdays. Same Bib Gourmand recognition, completely different philosophy. That's Philadelphia.

6. The Reservation

Zahav at 237 St James Pl is Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli restaurant — James Beard Outstanding Restaurant 2019, Michelin Recommended, and arguably the most important restaurant in Philadelphia. The hummus tehina is transcendent. The laffa bread comes puffy from the taboon oven. The lamb shoulder for two is the table's centerpiece. Getting a reservation is the hardest part; try booking exactly 14 days out when tables drop, or sit at the bar for walk-ins.

7. The Late-Night Run

Ishkabibble's at 337 South St has been the late-night move since 1979. They invented the chicken cheesesteak — yes, before everyone else. The "Gremlin" drink (half lemonade, half grape) is non-negotiable. Open until midnight on weekends, walk-up window, no pretense. This is where you end up after a show at TLA or a night on South Street, standing on the sidewalk with a foil-wrapped sandwich that cost you $9.

8. The Deli

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen at 700 S 4th St has been hand-slicing pastrami and corned beef since 1923 — a century of rye bread, mustard, and portions that require two hands. The cookies and rugelach at the bakery counter are legendary in their own right. Located in Bella Vista just off South Street, it's the kind of place where the waitstaff has been there for decades and the menu hasn't changed because it doesn't need to.

9 & 10. The Philly Originals

No Philadelphia food guide is complete without the two chains that were born here and became regional religions.

Rita's Water Ice was founded in Bensalem in 1984, and the first day of spring means one thing in Philadelphia: free water ice at Rita's. The line wraps around every location in the Delaware Valley. Cherry and mango are canonical. Gelati (water ice layered with frozen custard) is the move if you want both.

Wawa is harder to explain to outsiders. It's a convenience store, yes. But it's also a hoagie shop, a coffee counter, a gas station, and a cultural institution. The Gobbler (a Thanksgiving-themed hoagie) has its own fan base. The touchscreen ordering kiosk is a rite of passage. Philadelphians abroad don't miss the Liberty Bell — they miss Wawa coffee at 6am.