The Resy Hit List: Where In Philadelphia You’ll Want to Eat in Jan. 2026
Updated:
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
- Michelin Must-Trys: Now that Michelin has weighed in on Philly, you might find yourself with a fresh must-go list. Pizzeria Beddia and Sally earned Bib Gourmand nods as outstanding casual dining. The guide also named a strong slate of “Recommended” restaurants — places without stars this round, but clearly on Michelin’s radar. Those include Ambra, Forsythia, Hiroki, illata (a defining Philly restaurant of 2025), Kalaya, Laser Wolf, Little Walter’s, Mish Mish, River Twice, Southwark, Suraya, Vedge, Vernick Food & Drink, and Zahav. Book them all on Resy.
- New on Resy: We’re also welcoming a few newcomers to the Resy party. Jade Rabbit, a new underground speakeasy at Maison Lotus in Wayne, leans into theatrical cocktails served under bubbles or swirling with smoke. Tyson Cole’s Uchi Philadelphia just landed on the Hit List — read more below. For something casual, Topside Tavern brings pub fare and easygoing vibes to Center City. And for pure nostalgia, Benihana is now live in Cherry Hill and Plymouth Meeting.
- Drinks with Class: Mid-January can get boring, dry or not. Enter Wilder’s “New Year, Fresh Classics” cocktail class on January 13. You’ll be making the three drinks alongside beverage director Tom Brander, while snacking on savory and sweet bites from the kitchen. The next night, Leo is offering a “Dry January” tasting of five non-alcoholic wines and zero-proof cocktails.
- Non-Alc Adventures: Speaking of non-alcoholic beverages, should you be opting for a dry month, Philly bars are working to keep it interesting. At Little Walter’s, the “bezalkoholowe” menu offers four $7 drinks layered with herbs, fruit, and fizz, while Bar Hygge builds alcohol-free sippers from ingredients like lemongrass, rosemary, caramelized pineapple, and jalapeño. R&D Cocktail Bar applies the same care to NA versions of classics like the Negroni and Jungle Bird, and Ember & Ash’s Korean Spice Margarita brings mandarin purée and gochujang heat. For something lighter, try Laser Wolf’s cardamom-forward Laser Lemonade, Lark’s Sorrel, made with hibiscus, or Wilder’s Top Shelf Bubbles, a spritz.
New to the Hit List (Jan. 2026)
Bomb Bomb, Huda Burger, Ground Provisions, The Lodge, Uchi Philadelphia, Wine Dive.
1. Bomb Bomb Lower Moyamensing
South Philly has no shortage of wild stories, including the one about the corner bar that was bombed twice by a rival in the 1930s. It survived, rebranded as Bomb Bomb, and kept going. Now it enters a new chapter under Joey Baldino — the chef behind Palizzi Social Club and Zeppoli in Collingswood — who has taken over operations with an assist from Max Hachey, previously sous chef at Friday Saturday Sunday, as chef de cuisine. A South Philly native, Baldino brings his refined Italian American cooking to this red-and-white-checkered institution. The $62 prix fixe moves through seafood hits like a showstopping lobster Française, clams casino, mussels fra diavolo, and squid ink spaghetti, with a vanilla sundae to close out the rich meal. A separate entrance leads to the bar, where the menu shifts to sandwiches and fried mozz.
2. Dancerobot Rittenhouse
If Jesse Ito is involved, sign us up. The James Beard–nominated chef behind the nearly impossible-to-book Royal Sushi omakase counter just opened his second act: dancerobot. Created with longtime collaborator and Royal Izakaya chef Justin Bacharach, Dancerobot was years in the making — including an epic R&D trip to Japan — and delivers Japanese comfort food for dinner, brunch, and late night in a neon-dotted, Victorian-style bar. The chefs suggest ordering the kare pan (curry doughnut), omurice (creamy omelet over rice), konbini-style egg salad sandwich, katsu curry, hamburg steak, and Hokkaido milk soft serve. Reservations drop 30 days out at noon — and yes, they’re going fast.
3. Farina Di Vita Queens Village
We Philadelphians love a giant, messy sandwich, and Farina di Vita delivers — then takes it up a notch. Creative combinations of high-quality ingredients show up in hoagies like The Marie, with 24-month aged Parma prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, grape tomato, lemon spritz, olive oil, spices, and lemon zest. Chicken cutlet sandwiches are another Farina di Vita specialty — especially delicious when topped with herbed ricotta, hot soppresata, burrata, or blush sauce. Co-owners Jason Okdeh and Brandlyn Luis Ortiz know that bread is make-or-break in the sandwich game, which is why they rely on brick-oven, seeded rolls from South Philly’s family-run Cacia’s Bakery.
Find more info here.
4. Uchi Philadelphia Rittenhouse
Uchi arrives in Philadelphia by way of Austin, chef Tyson Cole’s home base. This is a sushi bar built around technique and range, and a flair that has earned it wide praise and offshoots in multiple cities. Expect pristine cuts like bluefin otoro; raw plates such as yellowtail with ponzu, Thai chile, and orange supremes; plus a lineup of crudos and nightly entrées. Chef de cuisine Ford Sonnenberg’s personal favorite is the Denver steak tataki with hollandaise and maitakes. There’s also a 10-course omakase, plus a vegetarian version. For dessert, Uchi’s Fried Milk remains a signature, built from fried pastry cream and vanilla custard with salted fudge and toasted blondie. While we’re normally skeptical of anything from the Lone Star State (looking at you, Dallas Cowboys), this is an import we can get behind.
5. Kissho House Omakase Philadelphia
Upstairs at this Rittenhouse newcomer, you’ll find solid Japanese fare: sushi, charcoal-grilled meat, fish, and vegetables, pan-fried dumplings, and cocktails. Head downstairs, though, and you’re in for Philly’s newest omakase experience. Having honed his craft at Royal Izakaya and Hiroki, chef Jeff Chen is slicing, saucing, and torching 17-19 courses of nigiri, plus small plates, at an eight-seat sushi bar, with much of the fish being flown in from Japanese markets. Kissho, which means “lucky omen,” offers its omakase at $150 a head — reasonable considering you’ll often find wagyu, truffle, and caviar on the menu. It’s also one of our favorite Philly restaurants in 2025.
6. Wine Dive Rittenhouse
When it comes to chill places to drink and meet up with friends, Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico are unmatched. The duo behind Grace & Proper and Sonny’s Cocktail Joint (and formerly neighborhood favorite Hawthornes), with their longtime business partner Susan Freeman, are experts at crafting new bars that feel like they’ve been there forever. Wine Dive — yes, a wine-focused dive bar — recently reopened in a new location. They’re calling it “Old Hollywood meets Atlantic City,” which feels fitting for a place lined with tufted banquettes, 20 top-notch wines by-the-glass, chicken cutlets, loaded baked potatoes, and cheeky soft serve flavors like “McDonald’s apple pie.” It’s walk-in only and open until 2 a.m.
Find more info here.
7. Mission Taqueria Center City
Mission Taqueria is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Owner Daniel McLaughlin’s spot above Oyster House is consistently one of the most joyful and delicious Mexican restaurants in town. It’s known for fresh-pressed tortillas made with fresh masa from heirloom Mexican corn, churros, incredible tortilla soup, frozen margs, and green or yellow juice. Go for a great lunch, happy hour (when tacos are $3.50), and or gluten-free dining. Everything — even the churros — are gluten-free! The restaurant also leans into its playful side with regular drag parties and themed events. Following along on social is the best way to catch what’s next.
8. Amá Fishtown
After running kitchens for Stephen Starr’s LMNO and Parc, chef Frankie Ramirez was ready to take the leap into ownership in a big way. He recently opened Amá, to the delight of Mexican food lovers everywhere. Even with 120 seats, Ramirez’s new restaurant has quickly become one of the toughest tables in town to snag. They’re coming for wood-fired octopus with black fried rice, shareable, seasonal tlayudas, make-your-own lamb neck birria tacos with consommé on the side, and giant curly churros with chocolate sauce and caramel-esque cajeta. Book it early and often; this place is just getting started.
9. La Jefa Rittenhouse Square
After a fire and major renovation, David Suro’s long-running Tequilas reopened this year – now three concepts in one. The original Tequilas still anchors the front. In back, La Jefa and its Milpa Bar (with a separate Latimer Street entrance) cover it all starting at 8 a.m. — with coffee, breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Dinner runs Wednesday through Sunday. Expect black quesadillas with calamari, fried poblano tacos, and shrimp aguachile — everything with top-notch sauces and lots of vegetarian options. Each space has its own bar menu, but the standout is Milpa, co-created by award-winning bartender Danny Childs, with every drink intensely crafted and served in a different glass. We named it one of Philly’s best dining experiences last year.
10. Suraya Fishtown
When Suraya opened in 2018, it became an instant classic — known for its shareable Lebanese fare, all-day café energy up front, and lush garden lounge out back. A sister spot to Condesa, Kalaya, Picnic, Pizzeria Beddia, R&D, and Café La Maude, it’s also a true family affair: co-owners Nathalie Richan and Roland Kassis named it after their grandmother. At dinner, the $78 tasting menu hits all the favorites — four dips (hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, labneh) plus tabbouleh — before moving on to dishes like kebabs, lentil-based mujadara, or a dry-aged rib-eye for two. At brunch, don’t miss the sugary, peel-apart kouign-amann. News update: Suraya recently earned “Recommended” status in the Michelin Guide. (The restaurant closed briefly on Jan. 2 after a fire but will be open soon.)
11. Corio University City
West Philly became the lucky beneficiary last summer of Corio, a new Italian spot by three Vernick Food & Drink alums. Chef David Feola — who also has experience cooking at Ember & Ash, Hearthside, and Southgate — is making fresh pizza and pasta dreams come true for University City’s busy population. Try Corio’s Chicken Riggies, a classic from Feola’s childhood in Central New York, or go a little fancier with gemelli with Parmesan, black pepper, sesame seeds, and pecorino. This place is family-friendly (think margherita pizzas and highchairs) and flexible with takeout. You’ll also see a mini wine shop and a full bar, led by sommelier and former Vernick bar director James Smith.
12. Cicala at the Divine Lorraine Fairmount
A husband-and-wife team run the Italian restaurant in Philly’s storied (and stunning) Divine Lorraine building, but this is no mom-and-pop operation. Plush round banquettes, crisp white tablecloths, and elaborate chandeliers fill the large, airy dining room. The wine list highlights Italian varietals from regions like Sicily and Sardinia. And Joe and Angela Cicala are not only deeply connected to Italy, but travel there frequently for inspiration. It shows. Joe brings that inspiration to dishes like Neapolitan-style meatballs, fried ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms, Amalfi-style fettuccine with eggplant and San Marzano tomatoes, and char-grilled whole Mediterranean dorade. Angela handles desserts, which change seasonally, but don’t miss “The Green Gold”: pistachio gelato with Trapanese sea salt and Sicilian extra virgin olive oil. Go here for a delicious splurge.
13. El Chingón Fishtown Fishtown
Since opening in 2022 on East Passyunk, Carlos Aparicio’s El Chingón has been a go-to for top-tier Mexican sandwiches and tacos. Now, the former Vetri and Starr chef has brought the magic to Fishtown, taking over the old Heffe Tacos space with a bright, casual stand on a prime Frankford Avenue corner. The menu mirrors the South Philly original — cemitas, tacos, and all the hits — with seating at picnic tables or a street-facing counter. The twist? Jardin de Agave, a pop-up bar tucked around back in partnership with Bluebird Distilling, serving frozen margaritas in a string-lit, semi-enclosed space that feels miles from Philly.
No reservations. Find more info here.
14. Ground Provisions West Chester
In a pioneering suburban effort, Brandon Beringer and Nora Wilson bring a delicious plant-based sensibility to bucolic West Chester, and it’s now available to book on Resy, so we’re psyched. Meals center around a $79 six-course tasting menu, which is built around the growing seasons of this corner of Chester County, and relies on close relationships with local farmers and producers. Dishes here are very much about being their own vegetable-focused thing, as with a charcoal-grilled white sweet potato glazed with habañada pepper, or ravioli filled with truffled potatoes and leeks. The full bar keeps a focused list of old and new world wines, local beers, cocktails, and zero-proof options.
15. Huda Burger Fishtown
Yehuda Sichel perfected house-baked milk buns at his sandwich destination, Huda, in Rittenhouse. There, the former Abe Fisher chef stacks uber-crunchy spicy chicken, fall-apart brisket, burgers, and grilled swordfish on the sweet, pillowy, Japanese-style buns. Now he’s doubling down on smash burgers with a new storefront in Fishtown, as one dows. At Huda Burger, crispy-edged smash burgers overflow from sesame-seeded milk buns, curly fries come with housemade dipping sauce, and soft serve ice cream means you can have a black-and-white milkshake with this classic meal. Avoiding gluten? Get your burger over a salad or fries.
Find more info here.
16. Fleur's East Kensington
Chef George Sabatino is back in his own restaurant — which is reason to celebrate. Longtime Philly diners know him from Fork, Barbuzzo, Stateside, and his first solo spot, Aldine. He’s one of the most respected chefs in town, known for spotlighting seasonal, local ingredients to create elegant dishes. At Fleur’s, that translates to sea scallop gratin with green chile butter, cabbage a l’orange, and pork and pistachio terrine with plum preserves. Situated in a former Kensington furniture store, this 140-seat French restaurant has a central raw bar and chef’s counter in the main dining room. Co-owners Josh Mann (Starr, Defined Hospitality) and Graham Gernsheimer (Vetri, Loco Pez) bring serious hospitality and bartending chops to this big operation.
17. Tesiny Philadelphia
You probably know Lauren Biederman from her namesake appetizing shop in the Italian Market — a go-to for bagel lovers and smoked fish obsessives, offering everything from gravlax and kippered salmon to golden osetra caviar (four ounces for $425). Now, she’s leveled up with a liquor license and a new oyster bar on Dickinson Street. Chef Michael Valent (formerly of Zahav and The Good King Tavern) turns out small plates made for sharing: think broiled oysters with Calabrian chile butter, or crispy potatoes topped with whitefish aioli and trout roe (or caviar, if you’re feeling flush). Those luxe fish eggs make a cameo on the cocktail list, too — try them stuffed into an olive, or keep it classic with the blue cheese version in an olive oil-washed martini.
18. Tai Lake Chinatown
Calling all seafood lovers: Tai Lake in Chinatown has been the go-to for ultra-fresh Cantonese-style crab, lobster, fish, and more since 1988. It’s deliciously old-school — your dinner waits in tanks up front, and lazy Susans make it easy to share across linen-draped tables. A recent Inquirer review raved about the whole lobster with sticky rice, crispy flounder, Dungeness crab, spicy clams with pork, congee, and steamed oysters in black bean sauce. It’s BYOB with no corkage, or you can order from the bar. And if someone in your group isn’t into seafood, Peking duck (brought in from Siu Kee across the street) is the answer.
Find more info here.
19. Café Nhan West Passyunk
Mother-and-son duo Nhan Vo and Andrew Dinh Vo proudly describe their Vietnamese restaurant as a “hole in the wall.” Maybe so, but since 2014, it has gone big on flavor — and found a devoted following not only locally but beyond — in its signature bún bò Huế, Central Vietnam’s lemongrassy noodle soup that’s similar to phở, with more spice and funk. The pork blood cubes are a popular add-in. You can also get traditional phở here, plus a variety of banh mi, ultra-crunchy chicken wings (perfect for game day!), summer rolls stuffed with meat, veggies, and noodles, and marinated, grilled pork over rice.
Find more info here.
20. The Lodge by Two Robbers Spirits Co. Washington Square West
Two Robbers Spirits has covered a lot of ground in a short time. The story starts in 2019, when twin brothers Vikram and Vivek Nayar launched a hard-seltzer company built around vodka made from winter wheat sourced from France’s Champagne region. The cans are now everywhere around Philadelphia, but the brand didn’t stop there. It’s now in the restaurant game, with two locations. Two Robbers Fishtown offers a walk-in tasting room and a casual burger menu, while the Lodge, which takes reservations, delivers a wood-paneled bar with cocktails and elevated bar snacks. We’re ordering Montreal-style poutine, Szechuan fried pickles, and a burger with Gruyère. At happy hour, Tuesday to Friday from 4-6 p.m., martinis, Negronis, and burgers — pub or smash — all ring in at $10.
