Inside the 76: Great restaurants that don't need reservations
Cafe Cuong (South Philadelphia)
Cafe Cuong introduced the city to Vietnamese hoagies in 1989. With a perfect balance of meats, veggies, herbs, jalapeño rings, and sauce, these sandwiches are the standard by which all others are measured. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Cafe Cuong (South Philadelphia)
Cafe Cuong introduced the city to Vietnamese hoagies in 1989. With a perfect balance of meats, veggies, herbs, jalapeño rings, and sauce, these sandwiches are the standard by which all others are measured. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Castellino’s Italian Market (River Wards)
Every item on these sandwiches, created on Liscio’s rolls, is sliced to order. There’s clever flavor play at work, too, like the sweet-and-salty duo of fig jam and prosciutto on the Fig Pig. Read more. — Michael Klein
Castellino’s Italian Market (River Wards)
Every item on these sandwiches, created on Liscio’s rolls, is sliced to order. There’s clever flavor play at work, too, like the sweet-and-salty duo of fig jam and prosciutto on the Fig Pig. Read more. — Michael Klein
D’jakarta Cafe (South Philadelphia)
This corner dining room is a destination for a broad collection of Indonesian specialties. Lamb satay skewers glossed in sweet soy and peanut sauce and beef shank rendang with coconut milk gravy are sure bets. Read more. — Craig LaBan
D’jakarta Cafe (South Philadelphia)
This corner dining room is a destination for a broad collection of Indonesian specialties. Lamb satay skewers glossed in sweet soy and peanut sauce and beef shank rendang with coconut milk gravy are sure bets. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Doro Bet (West Philadelphia)
Doro Bet serves up beautifully crispy, teff-coated fried chicken, spiced with either berbere or milder lemon turmeric. The teff means that all the chicken served is gluten-free. Read more. — Margaret Eby
Doro Bet (West Philadelphia)
Doro Bet serves up beautifully crispy, teff-coated fried chicken, spiced with either berbere or milder lemon turmeric. The teff means that all the chicken served is gluten-free. Read more. — Margaret Eby
El Chingón (South Philadelphia)
This all-day cafe is Philly’s most exhilarating Mexican kitchen, with a steady flow of elegant aguachiles (smoked bay scallops and hominy) and seasonal wonders, from chiles en nogada to crispy soft-shell crabs. Read more. — Craig LaBan
El Chingón (South Philadelphia)
This all-day cafe is Philly’s most exhilarating Mexican kitchen, with a steady flow of elegant aguachiles (smoked bay scallops and hominy) and seasonal wonders, from chiles en nogada to crispy soft-shell crabs. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Fiore Fine Foods (River Wards)
While Fiore dishes up excellent Italian pastries and coffee (don't sleep on the maritozzi and the shakerato), the real star is the handmade pasta, some of the best in the city — no small feat in Philly. Read more. — Margaret Eby
Fiore Fine Foods (River Wards)
While Fiore dishes up excellent Italian pastries and coffee (don't sleep on the maritozzi and the shakerato), the real star is the handmade pasta, some of the best in the city — no small feat in Philly. Read more. — Margaret Eby
Gilda (River Wards)
Sunny in disposition and footprint, Gilda is the quintessential cafe for 2024. The drinks skew fun, while the distinctive Portuguese fare can fit the bill from filling breakfast to breezy lunch to craveable treat. Read more. — Matt Buchanan
Gilda (River Wards)
Sunny in disposition and footprint, Gilda is the quintessential cafe for 2024. The drinks skew fun, while the distinctive Portuguese fare can fit the bill from filling breakfast to breezy lunch to craveable treat. Read more. — Matt Buchanan
John's Roast Pork (South Philadelphia)
It serves an elite classic steak, with a fresh beef griddled to a ribbon-chopped sear with caramelized onions and molten cheese packed into a roll that can contain the juice. Its pork sandwich is a sleeper hit. Read more. — Craig LaBan
John's Roast Pork (South Philadelphia)
It serves an elite classic steak, with a fresh beef griddled to a ribbon-chopped sear with caramelized onions and molten cheese packed into a roll that can contain the juice. Its pork sandwich is a sleeper hit. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Kingston 11 (Southwest Philadelphia)
Menu staples such as smoky jerk chicken, earthy curry goat, and the tender, glossy oxtail justify the trip to Woodland Avenue. Once you notice the jerk fry General Tso’s chicken, you’ll find yourself back in line. Read more. — Esra Erol
Kingston 11 (Southwest Philadelphia)
Menu staples such as smoky jerk chicken, earthy curry goat, and the tender, glossy oxtail justify the trip to Woodland Avenue. Once you notice the jerk fry General Tso’s chicken, you’ll find yourself back in line. Read more. — Esra Erol
Lè Mandingue (Southwest Philadelphia)
Lè Mandingue stands out for its sweeping West African menu, with dishes such as Jollof rice, pepper soup, yassa chicken, stewed sweet potato greens, cassava greens with smoked turkey, fried snapper, and fufu. Read more. — Jason Lo
Lè Mandingue (Southwest Philadelphia)
Lè Mandingue stands out for its sweeping West African menu, with dishes such as Jollof rice, pepper soup, yassa chicken, stewed sweet potato greens, cassava greens with smoked turkey, fried snapper, and fufu. Read more. — Jason Lo
Octopus Cart (Center City)
Its charcoal-fired grill sends seductive plumes of smoke across 20th and Market Streets, where devoted customers wait half an hour or more for whatever $20 Mediterranean platter is being cooked that day. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Octopus Cart (Center City)
Its charcoal-fired grill sends seductive plumes of smoke across 20th and Market Streets, where devoted customers wait half an hour or more for whatever $20 Mediterranean platter is being cooked that day. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Pho Ga Thanh Thanh (Oak Lane)
The focus remains true to tradition: entrancing bowls of star anise-scented broth laced with noodles and onions, a bouquet of add-in herbs, and platters of chopped-up chicken on the bone with gently poached innards. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Pho Ga Thanh Thanh (Oak Lane)
The focus remains true to tradition: entrancing bowls of star anise-scented broth laced with noodles and onions, a bouquet of add-in herbs, and platters of chopped-up chicken on the bone with gently poached innards. Read more. — Craig LaBan
Pizza West Chester (Chester County)
Owner and pizzaiolo Speer Madanat has a clear vision for pies: a well-done, blistered crust, with an assertive, Jersey tomato-based sauce, two different mozzarellas with a sprinkling of Grana Padano at the end. Read more— Matt Buchanan
Pizza West Chester (Chester County)
Owner and pizzaiolo Speer Madanat has a clear vision for pies: a well-done, blistered crust, with an assertive, Jersey tomato-based sauce, two different mozzarellas with a sprinkling of Grana Padano at the end. Read more— Matt Buchanan
Puyero Venezuelan Flavor (Center City)
After the Phillies celebrated their 2022 World Series Game 3 victory, only one post-game meal would suffice for Venezuelan natives Ranger Suárez and José Alvarado: cachapas, arepas, and other classics from Puyero. Read more. — Emily Bloch
Puyero Venezuelan Flavor (Center City)
After the Phillies celebrated their 2022 World Series Game 3 victory, only one post-game meal would suffice for Venezuelan natives Ranger Suárez and José Alvarado: cachapas, arepas, and other classics from Puyero. Read more. — Emily Bloch