The Resy Hit List: Where In Philadelphia You’ll Want to Eat in May 2025
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Philadelphia: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Philadelphia Not to Miss This Month
- Viva la Mexico: It’s a great month to celebrate Mexico, and its drinking and dining traditions. El Techo Philly has a rooftop fiesta planned for, yes, Cinco de Mayo, with free tacos included in your ticket, and Cinco parties are also planned at Cantina La Martina in Kensington and Jenkintown — each with food and drink specials and a DJ. A few days later on May 8, Jose Garces’ foundation is hosting a Latin Night Market-themed fundraiser at Live! Casino & Hotel. Keep the Mexican love going all month by checking out LMNO, Sor Ynéz, Tequilas Restaurant (new to the Hit List this month), and La Chinesca, with its cool scene at this warm-weather time of year.
- The Mother of All Celebrations: Your mom called … May 11 is Mother’s Day and it’s time to make plans. Options we’re especially into include brunch at Rex at the Royal or Lacroix, lunch at South (ideally, paired with a jazz show featuring Warren Oree’s Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble), an upscale vegan dinner at Vedge, or an alfajore-making class at Jezabel’s. And of course, if you’re feeling yes to brunch but not necessarily for Mother’s Day, our comprehensive guide has all the suggestions you could want.
- Sundays, Settled: The second Sunday of every month at Fond is now Prime Rib Night. For $65, you get French onion soup or an endive salad with warm bacon dressing, a 12-ounce prime rib with potatoes au gratin, seasonal vegetables, au jus, horseradish cream, and dessert, like a slice of chocolate cream pie. Stop for a nightcap — like a Philthy Martini with pickle brine — at Two Fourteen in the nearby town Media, known for its cute, strollable downtown. If you’re still in a meaty mood this May, we also love Alpen Rose, one of our splurge-worthy restaurants, for its 38-ounce tomahawk (and baked Alaska).
- Flavors of the Month: With both Jewish American Heritage Month and AAPI Heritage Month in May, consider visiting a Jewish- or Asian-owned establishment. Among the latter: Little Fish is one of Philly’s best BYOBs, while Libertee Grounds makes for a great, activity-driven date spot. As for Jewish-owned spots, Michael Solomonov’s array of Israel-inspired restaurants — Zahav, Dizengoff, Jaffa Bar, and Laser Wolf, with its breezy outdoor dining option — will keep you busy.
New to the Hit List (May 2025)
Hannah K Cafe, Meetinghouse Bar and Beer Company, Sergeantsville Inn, Tequilas Restaurant.
1. Kalaya Fishtown
Much has already been said about Kalaya. But if Nok Suntaranon’s southern Thai restaurant has been delighting diners since its humble start in the Italian Market, it has found a proper spot in its much larger Fishtown digs, with a liquor license that helped create a vital bar scene. Between Nok’s book release and “Chef’s Table” appearance last fall, and inclusion on the “Time 100” list of the most influential people in the world, Kalaya is back on top of our must-visit restaurants. Book early and often; you’ll be rewarded with deeply flavored curries, adorably shaped dumplings, and a signature grilled freshwater river prawn that’s mixed tableside with its tomalley and jasmine rice.
2. Post Haste East Kensington
With experience at Momofuku Ssam and Starr restaurants, owners Fred Beebe and Gabe Guerrero know what they’re doing in this revamped, former dive bar space. The laid-back neighborhood bar and restaurant prioritizes sustainability by utilizing ingredients from the Eastern United States (i.e. east of the Mississippi,) in innovative cocktails ranging from classic to experimental and non-alcoholic, and homey dishes like Parisian gnocchi with maitakes or celery root schnitzel with cabbage slaw. Keep an eye out for weeknight Classics Hour deals, monthly tasting menus, and brunch events.
3. Angelo’s Italian Market
The best cheesesteaks in the city — enough that it’s more or less outgrown its space, and sprouted a Bradley Cooper-driven offshoot in NYC. Convince us we’re wrong. Danny DiGiampietro makes the rolls fresh every morning. And Angelo’s is also the first place that we can remember employing Philly’s own Cooper Sharp cheese. DiGiampietro is obsessed with making perfect sandwiches and pizza (which, see below), and this small Italian Market shop always has that line down the block, although it’s a line of the eager and devoted — the kind of people who will offer your toddler a slice as you walk to the playground; which is a random, totally made-up example, we assure you.
Find more info here.
4. Ember & Ash East Passyunk
Passyunk’s chef-driven Ember & Ash recently made a change to its format, to lean more into New American gastropub fare. Don’t worry: chef-ower Scott Calhoun’s new menu is still cooked over an open fire and remains creative, with plenty of Asian influences. Take, for example, cured-and-seared swordfish belly slices over a hot sunchoke hash brown with a citrus slice (whatever is ripe from New Jersey’s Bhumi Growers) and bonito aioli. It’s fun. it’s fancy. Crowd-pleasers, like charred steak frites, baked rigatoni Bolognese, and a grilled gem Caesar, make E&A the kind of place that you can come to for a casual weekday meal or a celebration, especially with a group. Or grab a seat at the popular bar for playfully named, well-made cocktails like a Banana-hattan (a smoky banana-infused Manhattan).
5. Kiddo Washington Square West
We love a vegetable-forward restaurant, especially one where the ingredients come from Philly-area farms. So you’re in for unexpected dishes like adorable little hasselback sunchokes with parsnip cream, pickled carrots, and arugula pistou. Produce finds its way into fresh pastas too, like a mac ‘n’ cheese-esque cavatappi with a squash mornay sauce, smoked mushrooms, crunchy sourdough breadcrumbs, and pickled shallots. Happy hour buzzes away here from 4-6 p.m. on weekdays with $10-12 pasta dishes and drinks for $10 or less. At all times, you’ll find a tuned-up bar menu with fruit-infused cocktails and mocktails, a quality wine list, and six beers on tap.
6. Hannah K Cafe Point Breeze
Following the success of her adorable Vietnamese buncherie, TBD The Breakfast Den, Huyen Thai Dinh has opened a second spot. You’re in for indulgent, comforting breakfast food like crispy fried rice with tofu and a sunny side up egg, lemongrass shrimp and grits with Gouda, and build-your-own summer rolls with meat, vegetarian, and vegan options as the base. We’re especially excited about the shaken beef and eggs banh mi. On weekdays, bring your laptop and settle in for a few hours. You’ll also find plenty of tea and coffee here.
Find more info here.
7. Friday Saturday Sunday Rittenhouse Square
The whole country has been talking about Chad and Hanna Williams’ restaurant. FSS beat every competitor in the country in 2023 to win the James Beard award for Outstanding Restaurant, and we agree it pretty well defines dining in Philadelphia right now. Which is why we celebrate how perfect their fresh take on fine dining is: The bar, the service, the soundtrack, the lighting, and most of all, the fun and refined eight-course tasting menu that’s never been better. It’s also never been a tougher table to reserve: The books open on Resy on the first of every month at 10 a.m.
8. Le Virtù East Passyunk
This long-running and popular destination for fare, inspired by the rugged Italian region of Abruzzo, also has one of the city’s prettiest garden seating areas. And now, after nearly two decades, it’s back on top thanks to the addition of chef Andrew Wood (whom food lovers will remember from his charming BYOB, Russet). This E. Passyunk spot is known for its maccheroni alla mugnaia, a six-foot strand of pasta served in rotating sauces. Try that, but also sample some of Wood’s house-made salumi and ceppe alla Vittoria: long, hollow noodles with pumpkin puree, guanciale, and saffron. The Italian wines here are well-sourced and the amaro selection, including some made on the premises, can’t be beat.
9. Meetinghouse Bar and Beer Company Olde Richmond
Meetinghouse feels like it’s been there forever. Well, technically the space, most recently Memphis Taproom, has been a neighborhood bar since 1935. The new owners have kept things simple, but delicious. Chef and co-owner Drew DiTomo’s experience cooking in some of Philly’s top kitchens means you’re in for casual food made really, really well. His roast beef sandwich with a side of horseradish has quickly become a signature dish. We also recommend the turkey cutlet, giant green salad, and baked pineapple. The narrow bar-restaurant also makes three of its own beers, in collaboration with Tonewood Brewing, in easy-to-follow styles: hoppy, pale, and dark.
10. Sergeantsville Inn Delaware Township
Restaurants in historic inns offer plenty of old-timey charm, but often fall into the trap of dated, safe menus (raspberry vinaigrette, anyone?). The Sergeantsville Inn, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey (near New Hope), eschews that trend. The restaurant, located in a 1700s-era stone building, recently brought on chef Sean Gray, the former executive chef of New York City’s Michelin-starred Momofuku Ko. He’s brought “Top Chef” sensibilities to an approachable menu with dishes like head-on shrimp casino and a house-ground cheeseburger with Cooper Sharp. Gray’s former Ko colleague, Omy Bugazia, revamped the Inn’s wine program, bringing in an impressive gathering of low-intervention Old World wines.
11. Lark – Bala Cynwyd Bala Cynwyd
Did you know that Nick Elmi — known and celebrated for his intimate East Passyunk restaurant Laurel — also runs a 140-seat suburban operation in Bala Cynwyd? Overlooking the Schuylkill River, it’s a gorgeous place to dine. Pulling from a coastal Mediterranean theme, Elmi stacks the menu with dishes like sumac-glazed octopus, sourdough-crusted halibut, roasted Spanish artichokes, and delicate housemade pastas like bucatini with clams and taleggio agnolotti. You can pop in for a drink and a bite on the rooftop terrace, or a luxurious meal in the generous dining room. At ground level, this building is also home to Elmi’s The Landing Kitchen, a cafe with fresh snacks and sandwiches and a great airy atmosphere, both inside and out.
12. Irwin’s South Philadelphia
Chef Michael Vincent Fererri has been cooking top-notch Silician food for most of his career in Philly. He’s known for family recipes and fresh spins on classic Italian dishes — and for his spectacular hand with pasta, whether it’s hand-rolled gnocchi sardi with eggplant, or spaghetti with clams. The view from here on top of Bok Building, a former public high school, is a stunner — and adds to what’s always a special time. And if you want to plus-up that specialness even more, you can book Salvatore’s Counter, named after Fererri’s late father; it’s an intimate four-seat experience with a never-repeated 10-course menu, every other Sunday.
13. Amy’s Pastelillos Fishtown
So, you’re into empanadas, but like to try something new? Meet pastelillos, Puerto Rico’s own deep-fried and crimped pastry stuffed with savory fillings. Amaryllis Rivera Nassar launched Amy’s Pastelillos as a pop-up and it has grown so popular that she opened a brick and mortar in summer 2024. The crowds come for her unique offerings, like guava barbecue pork, margherita pizza, and vegan yuca and gandules pastelillos, plus hearty bowls, stewed beans, and plantains. Bring a tray of these to your next party and get ready to make some new friends.
Find more info here.
14. Royal Sushi Omakase Queen Village
Philly’s seven-time Beard Award nominee remains one of the hardest reservations in town to snag. It’s worth the effort to experience Jesse Ito’s high-skill omakase at Royal Sushi. The fish here is carefully sourced, intensively prepared, and delivered bite by perfect bite at an intimate counter in a back room of Royal Izakaya, a busy Japanese bar and restaurant. Royal Izakaya is walk-in only; Royal Sushi you can book below.
P.S. Here are a few tips on getting into Royal Sushi Omakase.
15. Loretta’s Headhouse Square
As soon as we heard that the team behind Bloomsday, the cozy Headhouse Square neighborhood staple, had plans to open a cafe down the street, we couldn’t wait. Now, Loretta’s is open. With a focus on fresh-baked goods, she’s serving breakfast and lunch, plus coffee, tea, juice, and pastries until 2 p.m. daily. We’re excited about the cinnamon rolls, mahogany laminated pie dough pop-tarts, poofy glazed doughnuts, bagels — and yes, sandwiches too. For a savory bite, try The Shirley with Lebanon bologna, mortadella, serrano ham, and burrata. For something sweet, The Barbara Special packs a croissant with peanut butter, banana, honey-roasted peanuts, and apple cider.
Find more info here.
16. My Loup Rittenhouse
My Loup chef-owners Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp continue to stack up the awards, and continue to hold a place of Hit List pride. She was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs and he was on the cover of Bon Appetit’s 2024 new restaurants issue. This dynamic duo’s cooking is confident, balanced, and fun — just like the vibe in their restaurants (including Her Place and the pop-up Amourette). Here, Shulman and Kemp pay tribute to the modern French cuisine they enjoyed while working and dating in Montreal. The menu changes daily, but if you can get the cold roast beef au poivre with fries, don’t miss it (and don’t be afraid to eat it with your hands).
17. Provenance Society Hill
Nich Bazik’s debut restaurant is already one of Philly’s most ambitious in a while. His ultra-creative team serves 20 to 25 dishes to around 30 people at two seatings per night. While the meal leans classical French, there’s a decent amount of Korean influence here, thanks to Bazik’s Korean relatives. Expect fancy ingredients like golden osetra caviar and uni, with courses of milk bread and marinated vegetables in between. Pastry chef Abby Dahan, currently up for a James Beard award, wraps up dinner here in style with a slew of incredible desserts, like Chartreuse ganache and a duck-fat canelé. It’s a tough table to book, but we have tips. And this spring, Provenance is hosting a few special dinners: French Classics on March 4, a Raw Bar Dinner on April 8, and a Caviar Dinner on May 13.
18. Càphê Roasters Kensington
This cafe punches well above its weight, as evidenced by a recent James Beard Award nomination. Thu Pham sources coffee from small arabica producers in the central highlands of Vietnam, known for its volcanic mountain soil, and roasts it in Philly. The Olney-native’s sunny Kensington cafe is open for breakfast and lunch six days a week. Get there early to catch specials like strawberry shortcake soft serve on a strawberry cone or a Korean sweet potato and espresso einspänner (a Viennese coffee drink similar to a latte). On the regular menu, find an array of banh mi and other sandwiches, plus sweet and sour tamarind fries.
Find more info here.
19. Machine Shop South Philly
French technique meets Pennsylvania grain and fruit at this boulangerie and patisserie located on the ground floor of Bok Building. Head here for flakey layered delights — from double chocolate croissants, to kouign-amann, to a pastry with jammy eggs, hot pepper, and feta. There is a decent amount of seating in the bakery, and a coffee bar just outside. We like to take home a fresh-baked roasted potato cheddar loaf or a crusty baguette. And we’re not alone in our stanning: Machine Shop is on the boards again with a second James Beard nomination.
Find more info here.
20. Tequilas Restaurant Rittenhouse Square
There was a moment, after a fire forced its closure for two years, that we thought Tequilas might not be coming back. We’re glad to have been wrong. David Suro’s long-running (since 1986!) Mexican restaurant recently reopened with its beautiful dining room intact, an imported tile floor, and a new offering in the back: an all-day cafe that starts with coffee in the mornings and shifts to a bar at night. Head to the stately Locust Street brownstone for fine-dining takes on Guadalajaran classics like beef or chicken molcajete, and custard with cinnamon crumble.
Sarah Maiellano is a Philadelphia-based journalist covering restaurants and travel. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.
