Photo courtesy of Mish Mish

GuidesPhiladelphia

The Philly Restaurants Where We Want to Be Regulars

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Philly is known for some top-tier, destination-worthy restaurants where it might be hard to book a table, and you’re likely spend half of your dinner photographing the food. (No judgment here.) We sing their praises often. But sometimes you just want a solid and equally special meal, without the hassle of setting multiple Resy Notifies.

These are the types of restaurants you’ll want to go to regularly. And maybe you’ll even become a “regular” — a coveted status in the restaurant world. Think: Cheers vibes when you walk in. You know the staff and the menu well, and the servers and bartenders know you. It’s a warm and chill feeling, at the same time.

We’re making things easier for you with this guide to 14 spots where we’d like to become regulars, in more than a dozen neighborhoods throughout Philly. These places frequently have last-minute tables available to book on Resy, and offer excellent food, service, and atmosphere.

Bridget Foy’s Queen Village

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Photo courtesy of Bridget Foy’s

This Philly classic has been around since the ’80s, when its current owner’s parents named their restaurant after her. Today, Bridget runs her namesake restaurant and rebuilt it after a fire a few years ago. It’s a solid neighborhood staple, known for an easy-going menu with burgers, wings, Caesar salad, and entrees like braised short rib and a harvest grain bowl. Pro tip: Bridget Foy’s goes all out all day for St. Patrick’s Day with corned beef, Guinness everything, and live music. The South Street location makes this a great stop for a drink anytime.

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Photo courtesy of Bridget Foy’s

Sally Fitler Square

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Photo courtesy of Sally

This is your destination for sourdough pizza and natural wine. The team behind our dearly departed Martha runs this friendly Fitler spot. The leopard-spotted pies here range from simple tomato sauce and cheese to one with soppressata, local cave-aged cheese, and pepper jelly. It’s a good choice for a group that includes little ones and grown-ups looking for an upgraded meal. Though Sally is known for pizza, you can actually combine a few small plates to make more of a meal, too, like chicken piccata, Parisian gnocchi, and a little gem salad. And if you go in nicer weather, do take advantage of their prime outdoor seating.

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Photo courtesy of Sally

Han Dynasty – University City University City

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Yeah, it’s spicy. But the more you go, the more used to it you’ll get. Trust us. And that’s when you can really explore this Sichuan menu, from porky or vegetarian dan dan noodles to dumplings in chili oil to spicy beef noodle soup. If you truly hate heat, look for no-or-low spice Chinese American classics like lo mein, fried rice, and wonton soup. There are a few Han Dynasty locations around town, but this one is especially popular with students and University City workers. It’s good for a group, especially considering the full bar and multiple seat areas, including a patio.

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Loco Pez West Philly Philadelphia

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Photo courtesy of Loco Pez West Philly

Taking inspiration from the taco truck scene in Los Angeles, Loco Pez first opened in Fishtown and then this West Philly location. On a Baltimore Avenue corner, you can pop in here for lunch or dinner any day of the week. On the menu, you’ll find a choose-your-own-adventure style with 10 protein options — including three vegetarian choices — that tuck into tacos, burritos, quesadillas, bowls, or enchiladas. You might also want to try the fried wings tossed in street corn with cotija cheese and Tajin too. Don’t forget a daily happy hour when nachos are half price, beer is $2 off, and margs go for $6.

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Photo courtesy of Loco Pez West Philly

Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar Fishtown

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Photo courtesy of Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar

This new-ish Fishtown restaurant quickly became a favorite for many, thanks to the handmade pasta and tons of gluten-free options. Sharing is the move at Tulip. That way, you can sample chef Alexander Beninato’s seasonal Italian-inspired pastas, like carrot ravioli, cacio e pepperoncini, and radiatori with lamb and turnip ragu. Another cool feature is that this restaurant is also a tasting room for Chester County’s Wayvine Vineyards, which means you can pick up bottles to go or order glasses, along with other Pennsylvania-made spirits and beer, to drink with dinner.

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Photo courtesy of Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar

The Sidecar Bar & Grille Graduate Hospital

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One of those rare bar-restaurants that every neighborhood could use, Sidecar welcomes all comers. There’s a kid’s menu, brunch service, Quizzo nights, and a late-night happy hour from 10 p.m. to midnight. The casual menu offers upgraded takes on French onion soup, panko-topped mac and cheese, fish and chips, a veggie burger, a Cubano, and even Detroit-style pizza. Though this is a comfort food-style place, specials and new dishes frequently make it onto the drink and food menus. You’ll want to keep coming back.

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Le Viet South Philadelphia

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Photo courtesy of Le Viet

Philly has a vibrant Vietnamese food scene, but this spot stands out for its full bar and the fact that it also takes reservations. Those aspects alone would make it somewhere we can revisit frequently, and then there’s the huge menu and regularly added new dishes and specials. There’s so much to explore, from bao sliders, phở, vermicelli topped with pork or tofu, broken rice, clay pot curry or caramelized spareribs, deep-fried wings — and plenty more. Follow along on Instagram to see what’s new, and enjoy silly videos posted by the staff.

P.S. On Jan. 27, Le Viet is hosting a Tết (Lunar New Year) gathering you don’t want to miss: It’s a six-course, family-style tasting menu featuring dishes from Le Viet, Gabriella’s, Cafe Nhan, Banh Mi & Bottles, Ba Le Bakery, and Jacob Trinh of Little Fish and Philly Sake Club. Tickets are $108 per person, and you can get them here.

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Photo courtesy of Le Viet

Mission Taqueria Center City

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Photo courtesy of Mission Taqueria

These days, more and more restaurants press their own fresh corn tortillas, but Mission helped start the local trend back in 2016. Over the years, this sunny second-story Mexican restaurant has gotten easier to book and that’s a great thing for anyone who loves tacos, margaritas, rich tortilla soup with cactus pads, and churros. Along with classics like carne asada, wild shrimp, carnitas, and fried mahi, vegetarian and vegan eaters will appreciate the cauliflower al pastor and eggplant barbacoa tacos at Mission. And everyone can get behind a 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday happy hour where spicy margaritas go for just $6 and tacos for $3 a piece.

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Photo courtesy of Mission Taqueria

Helm BYOB Kensington

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When Philly’s dining scene was heating up in 2015, Kevin D’Egidio and Mike Griffiths opened Helm. Their creative new American cooking has kept it on the map. There’s always something new to try here. A three-course menu for $55 utilizes whatever is in season and strikes the chefs’ fancy. Take a look at the chalkboard menu to see the ingredients on offer, but you’ll want to chat with a server about how each dish is prepared. Bring a bottle of high- or low-brow wine, some kombucha, or a couple of beers to this chill BYOB.

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Pizzeria Beddia Fishtown

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Photo courtesy of Pizzeria Beddia

There was a time when getting into Joe Beddia’s pizzeria was nearly impossible. Lines wrapped around the block, and the dough was gone when it was gone. It was named the best pizza in America. Now that he’s partnered up with the excellent restaurant group behind Kalaya and Suraya, these coveted 16-inch pizzas are much more attainable. With seating for around 100 people, your chance to book a table or even walk in and hop on a bar stool are pretty good. Go for a spicy arrabbiata or a white pie with strips of bitter greens.

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Photo courtesy of Pizzeria Beddia

Vista Peru Old City

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We can’t get enough rotisserie chicken and yet, it can be hard to come by. Problem solved at Vista Peru, where owner Miguel Toro (known for his Northeast Philly restaurants El Balconcito I and II) serves a half chicken with French fries and salad for $17. If chicken isn’t your thing, don’t fret; this casual Peruvian restaurant actually offers a big menu of ceviche, rice dishes like seafood paella, broiled red snapper, octopus, and rib eye surf-and-turf with shrimp. You’ll want to try a few sides, too. We’re particularly fond of the fried savory and sweet plantains.

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Franky Bradley’s Midtown Village

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Franky Bradley’s is a decidedly cool bar. The wood-paneled walls are covered with often-risqué art that evokes 1970’s basements, there’s an old cigarette machine with the little knobs we loved pulling as kids, and upstairs, you’ll often find drag, burlesque, and DJ shows. Go early to grab a bite, like a backyard burger, steamed mussels, smoked wings, pizza, or pasta. With big tables and friendly service, it’s also a good happy hour spot for a group. Old heads will remember this Gayborhood bar as Sisters Nightclub, a long-gone lesbian hangout.

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Bar Hygge Fairmount

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A place that’s basically synonymous with cozy comfort is somewhere you’ll want to return to again and again. Beer lovers can sample a pour from the on-site 10-barrel nano brewery, but with one of the most thorough zero proof lineups in town, we recommend ordering an alcohol-free amaro, sparkling wine, or fruit-infused mocktail. To eat: Huddle around a board with fancy charcuterie, cheese, seafood, or vegetables — and fresh bread. We’d go for crispy rice salmon nigiri, babyback ribs, tempura cheese curds, beets with horseradish labne, and pretzel bites with beer cheese.

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Mish Mish East Passyunk

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Photo courtesy of Mish Mish

After working in restaurants and writing about them for fine local publications, Alex Tewfik poured everything he loved about dining out into his own haunt. With cozy vibes, dim lighting, and top-tier food, Mish Mish quickly became the kind of restaurant that you can visit a few times a month. Go with a friend or a few people and order most (or all) of the menu to share. The menu changes seasonally, but you won’t go wrong with a few vegetable dishes and a few proteins. Don’t miss the fun fried string cheese. We especially dig the fancy wines (hello, Châteauneuf-du-Pape for $16 a glass) and fun cocktails like spritzes, martinis, and a rum-and-coke with bittersweet Averna.

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Photo courtesy of Mish Mish