Iconic Philly
The Sandwiches, Pies & Institutions
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. From a 1930 cheesesteak stand to a James Beard-winning Israeli kitchen, these are the places that make Philadelphia taste like nowhere else.
Pat's King of Steaks
Cheesesteaks
The original since 1930. Order whiz wit.
★ 4.2 · Italian Market · $
Dalessandro's
Cheesesteaks
Legendary Roxborough cheesesteak counter. The other side of Philly's great steak debate.
★ 4.5 · Citywide · $
DiNic's Roast Pork
Sandwiches
Best sandwich in America. Sharp provolone and rabe.
★ 4.7 · Reading Terminal · $
Pizzeria Beddia
Pizza
Possibly the best pizza in Philadelphia.
★ 4.6 · Fishtown · $$
Angelo's Pizzeria
Pizza
South Philly pizza institution on 9th Street. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
★ 4.6 · Italian Market · $
Zahav
Israeli
James Beard winner. Hummus, laffa, modern Israeli.
★ 4.7 · Jewelers' Row · $$$$
Ishkabibble's
Cheesesteaks
South Street's most beloved greasy spoon.
★ 4.4 · South Street · $
Famous 4th St Deli
Jewish Deli
Historic deli since 1923. Towering pastrami sandwiches.
★ 4.5 · South Street · $$
Rita's Water Ice
Water Ice & Frozen Custard
Philly-born chain since 1984. The first day of spring means free water ice at Rita's. 600+ locations across the East Coast.
★ 4.2 · Citywide · $
Wawa
Convenience & Hoagies
Philly-born convenience chain since 1964. The hoagies, the coffee, the touchscreen — a regional institution with 900+ locations.
★ 4.3 · Citywide · $
Read the full guide →
Michelin Guide
Philadelphia's Michelin-Recognized Restaurants
Philadelphia earned its first Michelin Guide selection in November 2025 — three starred restaurants, 10 Bib Gourmands, and 14+ recommended picks.
3 Stars
10 Bib Gourmand
14+ Recommended
One Michelin Star
Friday Saturday Sunday
Star · Center City
Creative small plates that "fill the mouth with flavor and succulence" and one of the best cocktail programs in the city. A Rittenhouse neighborhood favorite.
One Michelin Star
Her Place Supper Club
Star · Center City
Chef Amanda Shulman's multicourse set menu changes every two weeks — beautifully balanced French- and Italian-accented cooking with a communal feel and sauces that are real strengths.
One Michelin Star
Provenance
Star · Center City
A high-wire, high-stakes tasting menu shaped by Korean and French influences — precision, harmony, and impeccable taste from start to finish.
Bib Gourmand
Pizzeria Beddia
Bib · Center City
Arguably Philadelphia's most acclaimed pizza. Natural wine program and seasonal small plates alongside the wood-fired pies.
Bib Gourmand
Angelo's Pizzeria
Bib · Center City
South Philly pizza institution on 9th Street. Classic Philly-style pies in the heart of the Italian Market.
Recommended
Zahav
Recommended · Center City
Modern Israeli cuisine — hummus, laffa bread, lamb shoulder. James Beard Outstanding Restaurant. One of the hardest reservations in Philadelphia.
Recommended
Vernick Food & Drink
Recommended · Center City
Seasonal American cooking with the famous toast course. Rittenhouse corner spot.
View full Michelin Guide →
Tasting menus, Michelin-recognized rooms, and the chef-driven spots worth reserving weeks ahead — across every neighborhood.
Friday Saturday Sunday
Small Plates
Creative small plates and inventive cocktails in a stylish, relaxed setting.
★ 4.6 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Vernick Food & Drink
Modern American
One of Philly's best. Seasonal American cooking with impeccable technique.
★ 4.8 Rittenhouse Row $$$$
Suraya
Lebanese
Gorgeous restaurant with a garden. Brunch is legendary.
★ 4.7 Fishtown $$$
The Love
Modern American
Aimee Olexy + Stephen Starr's plant-filled dining room. Seasonal New American cooking and one of the best brunches in the neighborhood.
★ 4.5 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Fork
New American
Fine dining staple. Seasonal cooking, excellent wine.
★ 4.6 Old City $$$$
Butcher and Singer
Steakhouse
Stephen Starr's clubby 1920s-inspired steakhouse inside a restored brokerage floor. Dry-aged cuts, stiff martinis, and leather banquettes.
★ 4.5 Rittenhouse Row $$$$
Townsend
French Wine Bar
Award-winning French-focused wine bar and eatery on East Passyunk.
★ 4.7 East Passyunk $$$
a.kitchen + a.bar
Modern American
Quietly fashionable brunch and dinner spot inside AKA Rittenhouse. Natural wine program, shaded courtyard, and one of the best hotel bars in Center City.
★ 4.3 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Sor Ynez
Oaxacan
Mezcal bar and the best Mexican food in the city.
★ 4.6 East Passyunk $$$
Sidewalk tables on Rittenhouse Square, Lebanese garden brunch in Fishtown, all-day cafés in Old City — the weekend lineup.
Parc
French Brasserie
Classic French brasserie on Rittenhouse Square. Best outdoor seating in the city.
★ 4.4 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Rouge
French Café
Sidewalk café famous for its burger and people-watching on the square.
★ 4.3 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Suraya
Lebanese
Gorgeous restaurant with a garden. Brunch is legendary.
★ 4.7 Fishtown $$$
Talula's Daily
Artisan Market
Cheese, charcuterie, and baked goods.
★ 4.5 Jewelers' Row $$
Bud & Marilyn's
American Diner
Elevated diner classics — fried chicken and shakes.
★ 4.3 Antique Row $$
Barbuzzo
Mediterranean
Buzzy 13th Street spot with handmade pasta.
★ 4.5 Antique Row $$$
Wine bars, beer gardens, BYOBs you bring your best bottle to, and the dive bars locals actually go to.
Panorama
Italian Wine Bar
World-record wine list with solid Italian food.
★ 4.4 Old City $$$
Tattooed Mom
Dive Bar
Legendary dive with great food and PBR specials.
★ 4.5 South Street $
Mr. Martino's
Italian BYOB
Tiny BYOB with homemade pasta done right.
★ 4.7 Italian Market $$
The Goat's Beard
Farm-to-Table BYOB
Seasonal tasting menu. Intimate and excellent.
★ 4.6 Manayunk $$$
Lucky's Last Chance
Beer Garden
Craft brews and canal-side patio.
★ 4.3 Manayunk $$
Manayunk Brewing
Brewpub
House-brewed beers and elevated pub food.
★ 4.2 Manayunk $$
McNally's Tavern
Pub
Institution since 1921. The Schmitter sandwich.
★ 4.4 Chestnut Hill $$
Advertisement
[ AdSense Leaderboard · 728×90 or Responsive ]
Where to eat while you shop. Historic market stalls, gourmet grocers, and the bakeries worth the detour.
Reading Terminal
Market Hall
Steps away — 80+ vendors. Best lunch near the mall.
★ 4.7 Fashion District $
Beiler's Bakery
Amish Bakery
Amish doughnuts that sell out by noon.
★ 4.8 Reading Terminal $
Bassetts Ice Cream
Ice Cream
America's oldest ice cream company (1861).
★ 4.6 Reading Terminal $
Di Bruno Bros.
Gourmet Market
Wine bar, cheese counter, and prepared foods. Perfect for a quick gourmet lunch.
★ 4.5 Rittenhouse Row $$
Night Kitchen Bakery
Bakery
Outstanding cakes and the city's best sticky buns.
★ 4.7 Chestnut Hill $
Every Restaurant
Browse by Cuisine
Every spot we've featured, sorted by rating. Filter by style to narrow it down.
All
Iconic Philly
Fine Dining
Italian
French
Global
Brunch & Bakeries
Bars & BYOB
Markets
Beiler's Bakery
Amish Bakery
Amish doughnuts that sell out by noon.
★ 4.8 Reading Terminal $
Vernick Food & Drink
Modern American
One of Philly's best. Seasonal American cooking with impeccable technique.
★ 4.8 Rittenhouse Row $$$$
DiNic's Roast Pork
Sandwiches
Best sandwich in America. Sharp provolone and rabe.
★ 4.7 Reading Terminal $
Mr. Martino's
Italian BYOB
Tiny BYOB with homemade pasta done right.
★ 4.7 Italian Market $$
Night Kitchen Bakery
Bakery
Outstanding cakes and the city's best sticky buns.
★ 4.7 Chestnut Hill $
Reading Terminal
Market Hall
Steps away — 80+ vendors. Best lunch near the mall.
★ 4.7 Fashion District $
Suraya
Lebanese
Gorgeous restaurant with a garden. Brunch is legendary.
★ 4.7 Fishtown $$$
Townsend
French Wine Bar
Award-winning French-focused wine bar and eatery on East Passyunk.
★ 4.7 East Passyunk $$$
Zahav
Israeli
James Beard winner. Hummus, laffa, modern Israeli.
★ 4.7 Jewelers' Row $$$$
Angelo's Pizzeria
Pizza
South Philly pizza institution on 9th Street. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
★ 4.6 Italian Market $
Bassetts Ice Cream
Ice Cream
America's oldest ice cream company (1861).
★ 4.6 Reading Terminal $
Fork
New American
Fine dining staple. Seasonal cooking, excellent wine.
★ 4.6 Old City $$$$
Friday Saturday Sunday
Small Plates
Creative small plates and inventive cocktails in a stylish, relaxed setting.
★ 4.6 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Pizzeria Beddia
Pizza
Possibly the best pizza in Philadelphia.
★ 4.6 Fishtown $$
Sor Ynez
Oaxacan
Mezcal bar and the best Mexican food in the city.
★ 4.6 East Passyunk $$$
The Goat's Beard
Farm-to-Table BYOB
Seasonal tasting menu. Intimate and excellent.
★ 4.6 Manayunk $$$
Barbuzzo
Mediterranean
Buzzy 13th Street spot with handmade pasta.
★ 4.5 Antique Row $$$
Butcher and Singer
Steakhouse
Stephen Starr's clubby 1920s-inspired steakhouse inside a restored brokerage floor. Dry-aged cuts, stiff martinis, and leather banquettes.
★ 4.5 Rittenhouse Row $$$$
Dalessandro's
Cheesesteaks
Legendary Roxborough cheesesteak counter. The other side of Philly's great steak debate.
★ 4.5 Citywide $
Di Bruno Bros.
Gourmet Market
Wine bar, cheese counter, and prepared foods. Perfect for a quick gourmet lunch.
★ 4.5 Rittenhouse Row $$
Famous 4th St Deli
Jewish Deli
Historic deli since 1923. Towering pastrami sandwiches.
★ 4.5 South Street $$
Ralph's Italian
Italian American
America's oldest Italian restaurant (1900).
★ 4.5 Italian Market $$
Talula's Daily
Artisan Market
Cheese, charcuterie, and baked goods.
★ 4.5 Jewelers' Row $$
Tattooed Mom
Dive Bar
Legendary dive with great food and PBR specials.
★ 4.5 South Street $
The Capital Grille
Steakhouse
Upscale steakhouse at the mall. Dry-aged steaks.
★ 4.5 King of Prussia $$$$
The Love
Modern American
Aimee Olexy + Stephen Starr's plant-filled dining room. Seasonal New American cooking and one of the best brunches in the neighborhood.
★ 4.5 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Founding Farmers
Farm-to-Table
Farmer-owned with seasonal American and cocktails.
★ 4.4 King of Prussia $$$
Han Dynasty
Szechuan
Fiery Szechuan — dan dan noodles are essential.
★ 4.4 Jewelers' Row $$
Ishkabibble's
Cheesesteaks
South Street's most beloved greasy spoon.
★ 4.4 South Street $
McNally's Tavern
Pub
Institution since 1921. The Schmitter sandwich.
★ 4.4 Chestnut Hill $$
Panorama
Italian Wine Bar
World-record wine list with solid Italian food.
★ 4.4 Old City $$$
Parc
French Brasserie
Classic French brasserie on Rittenhouse Square. Best outdoor seating in the city.
★ 4.4 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Bud & Marilyn's
American Diner
Elevated diner classics — fried chicken and shakes.
★ 4.3 Antique Row $$
Lucky's Last Chance
Beer Garden
Craft brews and canal-side patio.
★ 4.3 Manayunk $$
Rouge
French Café
Sidewalk café famous for its burger and people-watching on the square.
★ 4.3 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Wawa
Convenience & Hoagies
Philly-born convenience chain since 1964. The hoagies, the coffee, the touchscreen — a regional institution with 900+ locations.
★ 4.3 Citywide $
a.kitchen + a.bar
Modern American
Quietly fashionable brunch and dinner spot inside AKA Rittenhouse. Natural wine program, shaded courtyard, and one of the best hotel bars in Center City.
★ 4.3 Rittenhouse Row $$$
Manayunk Brewing
Brewpub
House-brewed beers and elevated pub food.
★ 4.2 Manayunk $$
Pat's King of Steaks
Cheesesteaks
The original since 1930. Order whiz wit.
★ 4.2 Italian Market $
Rita's Water Ice
Water Ice & Frozen Custard
Philly-born chain since 1984. The first day of spring means free water ice at Rita's. 600+ locations across the East Coast.
★ 4.2 Citywide $
The Cheesecake Factory
American
Massive menu, generous portions. Reliable mall dining.
★ 4.2 King of Prussia $$
Hungry for More?
New restaurant openings, seasonal menus, and the best spots near every shopping district — delivered weekly.
Subscribe
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.