There is no greater joy than eating good food.

-me, right now

Mostly in the order that I remember them, various restaurants and cafes in Philly that I have tried and what I think of them. Cross-streets should be close but might not be 100% accurate since I listed most from memory.

Note that my star ratings represent both my preferences and perception of quality. I might rate a perfectly good place slightly low just because I don’t really feel like going there very often.

Rating metrics:

  • 5 stars = must go again
  • 4 stars = want to go again
  • 3 stars = would go again
  • 2 stars = avoid going again
  • 1 star = never go again

Restaurants

Via Locusta, Locust/17th (5 stars for dinner)

  • Fancy Italian, seasonally changing menu, one of my favorites
  • Best for dinner or happy hour. Brunch (weekends only) is good if you feel like eating pasta for breakfast lol.

Parc, 18th/Locust (4 stars for brunch)

  • French. Great for brunch (weekends only) especially in warm, sunny weather because they have sidewalk seating. Still good for dinner but there are better places for the same price range, in my opinion.

Walnut Street Cafe, Walnut/29th (4 stars for brunch)

  • Cute and fancy. Really nice atmosphere. Surpringly good brunch, surprisingly mediocre dinner.

Louie Louie, Walnut/36th (3 stars)

  • If you are taking an important guest to lunch at Penn, you will probably be going here or White Dog. Fancy interior, fancy food, fancy price. Good but would not necessarily go on my own.

White Dog, Sansom/34th (3 stars)

  • The homier (but still fancy) alternative to Louie Louie for an on-campus meal. Pretty much the same thoughts as Louie Louie but more cottage-core.

Suraya, somewhere in Fishtown (4 stars)

  • Expensive prix fixe menu for dinner but sooooo good. Really nice interior. I think they also have a cute little cafe/marketplace in front. Lebanese, I think.
  • Not as many options for lunch, but it is one of the few nice places open for lunch on a weekday.

JJ Thai, Chestnut/20th (5 stars)

  • Love this place. Generous portions, good pad Thai. It is not a luxury place or anything. Good for casual date night or dinner with friends. The star rating might be inflated for nostalgia. :’)

Fuji Mountain Sushi, Chestnut/20th (4 stars)

  • Quiet, unassuming, solid sushi place. Very fresh. Humble.
  • But… they also have karaoke? So it might not be so quiet after all.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, Chestnut/17th (5 stars)

  • I LOVE KURA. Get their app so you can add yourself to the waitlist online. You can also collect rewards points for (very small) discounts.

a.kitchen, 18th/Walnut (4 stars)

  • Dim, cozy, elegant. New American…? It is, like, artisanal. Good place for a nice business dinner or date night.

The Love, 18th/Sansom (3 stars)

  • Southern-inspired? Clean, classy, home-y (but not homely) atmosphere. Their brunch sounds good. Dinner did not really impress me, but maybe the food just is not really my style.

The Dandelion, 18th/Sansom (4 stars)

  • I think this is supposed to be British food? It is cozy and delicious. The interior makes me feel like I am in the Weasleys’ house, lol. I like the shepherd’s pie and rabbit pie (sorry, bunnies). Afternoon tea is great as well.

Koreana, 19th/Chestnut?? Somewhere in Rittenhouse (3 stars)

  • Probably the most generous 3-star rating I can give, but then again this is not really a restaurant restaurant. It is an extremely casual counter service place. Good for a quick solo lunch or dinner.

Umai Umai, 22nd/Fairmount? Not quite Spring Garden (4 stars)

  • Cute and cozy sushi place.

Dae Bak, Chinatown (5 stars)

  • Okay so I only order delivery from here. Solid Korean food. I order from here whenever I miss home food (so way more often than my bank account would like). It isn’t some kind of Michelin restaurant or anything. I just like Korean food, okay 😭

Franklin’s Table, Walnut/34th (3 stars)

  • Food court, not a restaurant. I like DK Sushi (if I feel like spending money), Goldie (love the falafel sandwich), and Pitruco (personal pizzas with indulgent toppings).
  • One of the better, more convenient choices for lunch near Penn but I don’t seek it out otherwise, hence the lower star rating.
  • Gets super busy during lunch when school is in season.

Zahav, northeastish (4 stars)

  • Obviously the food at Zahav is amazing. It is also extremely expensive and difficult to get a reservation. Let’s say I would love to eat here again if someone else is paying. 😂

Friday Saturday Sunday, Rittenhouse (4 stars)

  • Same deal as Zahav. Amazing food, scary price. Great choice for a special occasion.

A Mano, Fairmount? (5 stars)

  • Very very very yummy Italian. Fancy but still down to earth, like it is a bit nice to go on on a whim but not necessarily reserved for milestone reservations.

D’Angelo’s Ristorante, 20th/Chestnut (5 stars)

  • Another favorite Italian place but a very different atmosphere than A Mano or Via Locusta. D’Angelo’s feels darker, cozier, macho-er…? The pastas sound simpler but are equally delicious (e.g., one of my favorites is penne with asparagus).

Sampan, 12th/Chestnut (5 stars)

  • I feel funny rating Sampan higher than Zahav or Friday Saturday Sunday, but maybe that’s just the effect of personal taste and finances.
  • Sampan does Asian fusion small plates in a loud, clubby atmosphere. It is fun and delicious and much more affordable. I love eating here.

Double Knot, 12th/Chestnut (4 stars)

  • Next door to Sampan, dark and cozy sushi speakeasy-ish place. Definitely not a traditional sushi bar. Some dishes from Sampan are also available since they are part of the same restaurant conglomerate.
  • Fun atmosphere for date night or party.

Alpen Rose, 12th/Chestnut (5 stars)

  • Also part of the Sampan/Double Knot club but more separate as a restaurant. Definitely a special occasion restaurant. It is in the style of a speakeasy so you have to ring a doorbell when you arrive and someone will answer from a panel in the door. It is pretty goofy.
  • Atmosphere: steakhouse in a secret cigar club (no smoking though). Food is great.
  • Awesome for a fancy family dinner or date.

Federal Donuts, multiple locations (4 stars)

  • Does this count as a restaurant?? Their fried chicken sandwiches are surprisingly good. The donuts are yummy too, of course.

Masala Kitchen, Sansom/34th (4 stars)

  • Convenient counter service place for Indian food. I like the paneer masala. Frequent lunch spot for me when I am on campus.

New Delhi, 40th/Chestnut? (3 stars)

  • I have only had takeout or catered food here. I like it but I am not an expert on Indian food. I am always happy when free lunch is New Delhi.

Amma’s South Indian Cuisine (4 stars)

  • Also only takeout. Very good. I always forget the exact thing I like to order. I think it is the egg kothu parota. I do not know how to describe it. It is very good.

Thai Singha (3 stars)

  • Common free-lunch-at-Penn offering. I love Thai food so I like Thai Singha, but I feel like there are better options.

Pho Mi Rittenhouse, 19th/Chestnut (3 stars)

  • Tiny counter service place with maybe four seats. Good for a quick solo lunch.

Sawatdee (5 stars)

  • My favorite Thai place to order delivery.

Don Barriga (4 stars)

  • Burritos are good. Happy to order lunch/dinner from here.

Pita Chip, 36th/Market (4 stars)

  • Kinda like Chipotle for falafel bowls. Yummy with huge portions. Good place to stop by after an appointment at Student Health Services (it is right across the street).

Bud and Marilyn’s, 12th/Locust (4 stars)

  • Cute, cozy place.

Guiseppe and Sons, 16th/Sansom (4 stars)

  • Nice Italian restaurant with luxurious lighting. Feels like the speakeasy of Italian restaurants because it is downstairs from a deli (I think). Great happy hour.

ROUGE, 18th/Walnut (3 stars)

  • It is constantly loud and packed at night so it looks fun but I was not in love with the food. Might try again one day.

Forsythia, Old City (4 stars)

  • Delicious, pretty sure it is French or French-inspired, amazing wait staff.

Food Trucks

Tacos Don Memo, 38th/Spruce (5 stars)

  • All hail Don Memo! Call them to order ahead or else you will face an hour-plus wait.
  • I love their pastor burrito. Carne asada burrito is also good.
  • One of the few food trucks I actually crave, as opposed to being just being among the better options near the office.

Kami, 34th/Market (3 stars)

  • Korean. I like their kimchi fried rice but it can be a little oily. Call ahead to avoid a wait.

Halal, 34th/Walnut (3 stars)

  • My favorite halal food truck near campus and yes there is a difference. The rice is seasoned at this truck (another I tried had plain rice and it really stuck out). It is also cheaper than other trucks. No surcharge for card, which was nice.
  • My usual order is lamb over rice with white sauce and hot sauce. I think they also have green sauce, bbq sauce, and chickpeas, if that matters to you.
  • Line gets long on weekdays but goes quickly.

Bars

Franklin and Morgan Investment Company, Locust/18th (5 stars)

  • Used to be my favorite speakeasy, but they switched entrances which kinda killed the mood. :(
  • Still a great bar, though. Very nice atmosphere. They serve some small snacks as well.

The Ranstead Room, Ranstead/20th? Somewhere in Rittenhouse (5 stars)

  • Incredibly elusive. The line is always long and of course you cannot just call ahead. But you should try to go at least once if you like cocktail bars! It is a tiny, gorgeous place with delicious drinks. Not much food/snacks so eat before you go. Great stop after a dinner date.

The Library Bar, 19th/Walnut (5 stars)

  • Located inside The Rittenhouse Hotel. Tiny, cozy. Amazing old fashioneds. Big price but then again the drink itself is also huge…
  • They also have a mocktail involving pandan or matcha or something. I forget what but it was so good.
  • If you are lucky you will be able to snag the corner table but if it fills up as usual they also serve the lobby.

Charlie was a sinner., 12th/Walnut (3 stars)

  • I think this place is vegan? Good bar with tasty food. Nothing wrong with it, just not one of my favorites. Small and cozy, good date night option.

Cafes

Capital One Cafe, Walnut/17th (3 stars)

  • Lots of seating and good for working, but gets crowded pretty easily.
  • 50% off with a Capital One card.
  • The cafe itself changes sometimes. It used to be Peet’s and now it is something else.
  • Go here for the seating or convenience, not necessarily for the coffee itself. It is right in the middle of a bunch of shops and bus stop.

Peddler Coffee, 21st/Spring (5 stars)

  • Small, dark, cozy. Good for working if you manage to get a table (you usually can, even though it is a small place). You will have to sit on a stool, though, so the ergonomics are not great.
  • Fun seasonal drink menus. They are known for their chai. Small selection of big decadent pastries. Friendly staff. Probably my favorite local coffee shop.

Black Turtle Coffee, Chestnut/21st (2 stars)

  • Large space, open late, convenient for working. Okay drinks, okay food, okay atmosphere, BUT THEY HAVE MICE IN THE BASEMENT.
  • I have never gotten sick here and I have gone several times even knowing they have mice. I went because their hours were good for a long WFHFC (WFH from cafe) day. Pursue at your own risk.

Aventure Cafe, Towne Building (2 stars)

  • Convenient location, adequate supply of food and beverages, mean staff :(

Paris Baguette, multiple locations (3 stars)

  • I do not go to Paris Baguette in Philly unless I am craving a treat or looking for a place to get some work done. My family gets cakes here pretty often though, lol. Classic for Koreans.

Avril 50, Sansom/34th (3 stars)

  • It is a tiny hole-in-the-wall convenience store more than a cafe but they do serve hot tea and coffee. Wide variety of loose-leaf tea options.

Bluestone Lane, multiple locations (3 stars)

  • It’s a chain, so you it’s the same pretty much everywhere. A cute, upscale brunch spot. I particularly like one of their smoothies, the one with chocolate or coffee or peanut butter or something. Pricey. Nice for an occasional treat.

PS&Co, Locust/17th (3 stars)

  • Pretty sure this place is vegan or at the very least plant-based. I don’t like most of their offerings BUT they have amazing nachos.

Bakeshop on Twentieth, 20th/Walnut (4 stars)

  • Tiny place with very limited seating but huge baked goods. Giant cookies, scones, etc. They also do breakfast sandwiches but the last time I went I had to wait over an hour.

K’Far, 19th/Chestnut (5 stars)

  • The egg and cheese sandwich and smoked salmon sandwiches are SO GOOD. Fancy cafe that you might involve a wait for a table, so try to get there off-peak. Even the line for the pick-up counter gets long.

La Colombe, 19th/Walnut (3 stars)

  • They have multiple locations but this is the only one I really go to. Warm, dim, cozy with huge windows. They used to have a really good smoked salmon sandwich but they switched the menu. No wifi but you can get an xfinity hotspot.

Closed

Paying tribute to some favorites that are no longer with us.

  • Bing Bing Dim Sum
  • Cheu Noodle Bar
  • Pho Street (Market/21st)
  • Magic Carpet Food Truck (I never actually tried this but it was a local icon)
  • Nam
  • United By Blue
  • Federal Donuts (the one on Sansom)
  • Almost Home General, 2nd/Race (5 stars)
  • Devon Seafood and Grill