Ultimate Philadelphia Food Guide: Iconic Cheesesteaks, Global Cuisines & Hidden Gems
Iconic dishes like Boston cream pie, New York cheesecake, and Chicago-style pizza highlight a city's culinary fame. Philadelphia's claim? The legendary cheesesteak: thinly sliced steak on a fresh hoagie roll, topped with sautéed onions, peppers, and melted cheese. Our top picks are Pat’s King of Steaks, where it originated in the 1930s, and Tony Luke’s, famous for cheesesteaks and roast pork Italian sandwiches.
Beyond cheesesteaks, Philly boasts farm-to-table spots, craft breweries, diverse cuisines from Nordic to Malaysian, vegan delights, new food halls, and the annual Mushroom Festival in September in Kennett Square, the Mushroom Capital of the World.
Top Picks for Global Flavors, Award-Winners, or Casual Eats
Note: Many Philly restaurants are BYOB to skip high liquor license fees.
Around the World
Philly's dining scene offers rare gems from cuisines worldwide.
- Burmese – Rangoon
- Filipino – Perla
- French – Laurel
- Hawaiian – Poi Dog
- Indonesian – Hardena
- Italian – Andiario
- Jewish – Abe Fisher
- Lebanese – Suraya
- Malaysian – Sate Kampar
- Nordic – Noord eetcafe
Award-Winning Dining
Philly shone in the 2019 James Beard Awards with five finalists, announced May 6, 2019:
- Outstanding Chef: Marc Vetri (Vetri Cucina)
- Outstanding Restaurant: Zahav
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Fork, High Street on Market, High Street on Hudson
- Rising Star Chef: Jessi Ito (Royal Izakaya)
- Best Chef Mid-Atlantic: Cristina Martinez (South Philly Barbacoa) & Rich Landau (Vedge)
Food Trucks
Twelve Philly trucks ranked in America's Top 101. Try Cucina Zapata, Chewy’s Philly Food Truck, and Seoulful Philly for diverse bites.
Keeping It Simple
For no-fuss meals with great brews:
- Good Dog Bar & Restaurant
- Memphis Taproom
- Sidecar Bar & Grille
- South Philadelphia Taproom
- Standard Tap
Discover Philly's 50 best restaurants for more inspiration.
What's your top Philly food find?
