Beyond Cheesesteak: Philly Foodies’ Recommendations to Feast Like a Local!
Abstract
The Bourse, Rittenhouse Square, Chinatown, tacos, pizza, Korean, Burmese, vegetarian, steakhouses, sushi, Middle Eastern, Italian, French, wine bars, BYOBs, you name it—delicious options abound near the Annual Meeting this year.
Philadelphia is a foodie paradise, but you have to know where to eat. It’s a big city, with practically unlimited options for every kind of taste. Having lived in Philadelphia for over 20 years, we will help guide you to some great options that are all in relatively close proximity to the center of the city and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Let’s start with lunch. The convention center is just a few blocks away from Reading Terminal Market. Nearly every type of food can be found here, from crepes to Indian to Amish apple dumplings (one of our favorites!). It is a must—you can get lost in all of the exciting options. Plus, it’s a great place to buy souvenirs.
You can also just walk a short distance south on 13th Street to find plenty of great lunch options, such as Barbuzzo, Tredici, and El Vez.
The convention center is also a few blocks from Chinatown. You may want to wander over and walk into any restaurant that catches your eye there. One of our favorites is Dim Sum Garden. There are other options besides Chinese food in Chinatown. Rangoon is a Burmese restaurant, a favorite among visitors and locals. If you want something warm and comforting, Vietnam Restaurant has great pho.
In the Independence Mall area, you can find lots of choices at the Bourse. This historic building was home to the nation’s first commodities exchange market and is located within a block of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Constitution Museum, the African American Museum, and the American Jewish Museum. The Bourse now hosts a modern upscale food court with offerings including Egyptian fare, Korean food, Hawaiian poke, fresh pasta, awesome tacos, and much more.
Speaking of tacos, some of the best tacos in the country can be found at South Philly Barbacoa. It’s just two blocks from the iconic Pat’s Cheesesteaks, one of the more famous Philadelphia eateries. Dress casually, and arrive early. The lines can be long (but worth the wait!).
Let’s not forget pizza. There are many great places to get a slice or a pie in the city: Alice is very close to the convention center (and has locations in Rome, too) and will make your eyes and your mouth water. Top Tomato is very casual, has a great variety, and is good for a quick slice for lunch. Snap Kitchen Pizza and Zavino are also in close proximity to the convention center, so you can run out and grab a slice during the Annual Meeting. Pizzeria Stella has a brick oven imported from Italy and is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner.
The following are a few more great lunch venues, not too far from the convention center: Dizzendorf (falafel and hummus), Federal Donuts (awesome fried chicken and donuts), Giwa (Korean), Philadelphia Chutney Company (Indian, with Bollywood movies playing on the TV screen here), Mission Tacos, DanDan (Chinese), and Caribou Café (French bistro).
All these places are close to the Walnut and Chestnut street shopping areas, so these are good options when you need a bite and a break.
For dinner, there are many choices, and so we list a few of our favorites by category. Plan ahead and make a reservation.
Middle Eastern: Suraya (Lebanese), Zahav (Israeli), and K’Far Café.
Italian: Gran Caffe L’Aquila (outstanding regional Italian with award-winning gelato), the Saloon (iconic old-school South Philly Italian), Dante and Luigi’s (Italian), Vetri (Upscale Italian), and Davio’s (Northern Italian).
Mexican: El Vez, Tequilas, Xochitl, and Condesa.
Rittenhouse Square (deserves its own category): Parc (French, great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner), Rouge, and Devon Seafood are excellent choices with outdoor seating and a view of the square.
Sushi: Our neighborhood favorites are Koto, Kisso, and Fat Salmon. More upscale are Morimoto, Double Knot, Zama, Royal Sushi and Izakaya, and Tuna Bar.
Vegetarian: For great Philadelphia vegetarian cuisine, try Vedge (reservations!), V Street, and Goldie.
Classics: Some favorites that have stood the test of time include Amada (Spanish tapas), Fork (American), Talula’s Garden (American, with a lovely outdoor eating space), Mustard Greens (Chinese), Buddakan (nouveau-Chinese), and The Continental. Han Dynasty (Chinese) in Old City is just a short walk from Franklin Fountain, a wonderful old-world homemade ice cream shoppe well worth visiting (and its homemade candy shoppe is next door).
French: Bistro la Minette and Royal Boucherie.
Steaks: Steakhouses are popular and plentiful in Philadelphia. Alpen Rose, Barclay Prime, Butcher and Singer, Union Trust, Del Frisco’s, The Palm, Capital Grill, and Malbec are some of the most popular choices.
New hot location: Vernick Fish (at the Four Seasons).
Some wonderful little BYOBs can be found throughout the city: La Viola, Branzino, Little Nonna, Pumpkin, La Fontana della Citta, Melograno, Res Ipsa, Perla (Filipino), and Isot (Turkish) are great choices.
For a good cocktail and getting together with friends we suggest Tria (wine bar), Ritz Carlton (the lobby or the bar), XIX at the Bellevue, and JG Skyhigh (at the Four Seasons).
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. There are many other great places to eat in the city and more options if you want to see other areas of Philadelphia. For a list of wider options, including nearby South Philadelphia, Fishtown, University City, and beyond, Google “Philadelphia Magazine Top 50 Restaurants” for 50 great places to eat.
Enjoy Philadelphia, and bon appetit! ■
