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 to 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, all at the same time.
We’re making things easier for you with this guide to 16 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.
Corio University City
It’s been exciting to watch University City grow as new buildings rise. In 2025, the neighborhood welcomed this Italian restaurant from three Vernick alums. It’s a flexible, well-calibrated spot for a neighborhood full of offices and apartments – on delivery apps, with a dedicated pickup area, a long bar for after-work spritzes, and an easygoing menu built around pizza and pasta. Order the chicken riggies, a blush-sauced mix of three peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and provolone that sounds improbable, but works. You also can’t go wrong with the 14-inch margherita pizza, roasted artichokes with rosemary breadcrumbs, or the hoagie salad.
Picnic East Kensington
Flexibility rules at this spot from the same crew behind Kalaya, Suraya, and Pizzeria Beddia. Set in a former brewery space, it offers plenty of tables and a playful menu built around rotisserie chicken, with sauces like pickled pepper aioli and roasted garlic chicken jus, plus a strong wine list. It works just as well for an intergenerational group – babies to grandparents – as it does for a casual date night, or grabbing a picnic to go. Every meal should start with a half baguette and cultured butter, plus a few oysters. Guests order individually via QR code, which makes settling up easy, especially when people are coming and going.
Bridget Foy’s Queen Village
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 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.
Sally Fitler Square
This is your destination for sourdough pizza and natural wine. The team behind our dearly departed Martha runs this friendly Fitler spot that recently earned Michelin’s Bib Gourmand status. 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 Milanese, meatballs in red sauce, and a little gem salad. And if you go in nicer weather, do take advantage of their prime outdoor seating.
Han Dynasty – University City University City
Yeah, it can be 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 pork or vegetarian dan dan noodles to dumplings in chile oil to spicy beef noodle soup. If you truly can’t do 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 also good for a group, given the full bar and multiple seating areas, including a patio.
Loco Pez West Philly Philadelphia
Taking inspiration from the taco truck scene in Los Angeles, Loco Pez first opened in Fishtown and then in this West Philly location. On its Baltimore Avenue corner, you can pop in for lunch or dinner any day of the week. You’ll find a choose-your-own-adventure menu 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 the daily happy hour, when nachos are half-priced, beer is $2 off, and margs go for $6.
Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar Fishtown
This Fishtown restaurant is a favorite for many, thanks to the handmade pasta and tons of gluten-free options. At Tulip, sharing is the move. That way, you can sample chef Greg Walker’s seasonal Italian-inspired pastas, like purple sweet potato gnocchi, local mushroom tortelloni, and rigatoni alla vodka. 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.
The Sidecar Bar & Grille Graduate Hospital
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, birria cheesesteak, 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.
Le Viet South Philadelphia
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 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 their Instagram to see what’s new, and enjoy silly videos posted by the staff.
Mission Taqueria Center City
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 meaty 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 Saturday happy hour where spicy margaritas go for just $7 and tacos for $3.50 a piece.
Helm BYOB Kensington
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’ fancies. Do take a look at the chalkboard menu to see the ingredients on offer, and also chat with a server about how each dish is prepared. Don’t forget to bring a bottle of high- or low-brow wine, some kombucha, or a couple of beers to this chill BYOB.
Pizzeria Beddia Fishtown
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.
Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge Northern Liberties
It’s a diner. It’s a club. It’s a colorful, year-round outdoor garden. Need we say more? This long-running, distinctly Philly spot does triple-duty for casual food, dancing, and hanging out. We love it for brunch, but Silk City also works for rolling from dinner – served until 1 a.m. on weekends – straight into a live DJ set, or the other way around. Anytime is the right time for cheddar cheese pierogies, Korean-style fried cauliflower, or the house-smoked turkey BLT.
Franky Bradley's Midtown Village
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.
Bar Hygge Fairmount
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 onsite, 10-barrel nano brewery, but with one of the most thorough zero proof lineups in town, we recommend ordering an alcohol-free sparkling wine or fruit-infused mocktail. To eat: Huddle around a board with fancy charcuterie, cheese, seafood, or vegetables — and fresh bread. We’d also go for crispy rice salmon nigiri, baby back ribs, tempura cheese curds, beet and pistachio salad, and pretzel bites with beer cheese.
Mish Mish East Passyunk
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 — and don’t miss the fried string cheese. We especially dig the fancy wines (hello, French Pinot for $16 a glass) and fun cocktails like spritzes, martinis, and a rum-and-coke with bittersweet Averna.
