I always say Philadelphia is such an underestimated city. It often gets overlooked by nearby New York City and Washington DC. Not only are there a ton of cool things to see in a weekend, and tons of cheap things to do, Philadelphia offers some pretty delicious places to eat. Best of all, a lot of the places are pretty affordable. The following are some of my favorite places to eat in Philadelphia.
Teacher Tip: A cool thing about a lot of the restaurants is you can BYOB. Make sure to check the restaurant’s website beforehand to see if that is the case. Many do not charge a corkage fee either. Also, most of these places take reservations, so I recommend making them prior to your trip.
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Where to Stay in Philadelphia
Search for the best cheap Philadelphia hotels here! These are some of the best hotel options.
- Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center
- Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia City Center
- Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
- Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia
- Aloft Philadelphia Downtown
Amma’s South Indian
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11am-9:45pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-10:15pm
Amma’s South Indian is one of my favorite places to eat in Philadelphia. They offer some south Indian style of food. This place was hopping even at 9pm. It will leave you so full, so I recommend going with a group to be able to try various dishes. Their recipes have been passed down through generations and have a very rich flavor. Make sure to get a Dosa, you will not be sorry!
The Bourse Food Hall
Cost: $-$$
Hours: Currently closed due to construction
This modern food hall is conveniently located by Independence Hall and one of the great places to eat in Philadelphia. They have over 20 vendors in this historical building. In the early days, this used to be a large Philadelphia market where merchants would come from miles away to sell their goods. Present-day, you can grab a quick bite to eat after exploring the historical sites in the area.
Cava
Cost: $
Hours: Varies by location
If you’re looking for a quick and cheap place to eat, Cava is the perfect stop. This Mediterranean chain is like a Chipotle but for Mediterranean food. You can build your own bowl or salad with a choice of a starch, meat, veggies, and dressing.
Dim Sum Garden
Cost: $$
Hours: 11am-10pm
Dim Sum Garden is located in Chinatown and has some of the best dumplings and Chinese-style Dim Sum around. The original recipe comes from China from the chef that created Xiao Long Bao – Chinese Dumpling Soup. You can choose to eat there or get the food to go. It is one of the best places to eat in Philadelphia.
Fiore Fine Foods
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Mon, Thurs: 8am-3pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-8pm (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Fiore Fine Foods is a delicious Italian place in Philadelphia. They serve more higher-end Italian choices and have a constantly rotating menu. A lot of the items on the menu are seasonal and fresh which makes for many unique choices anytime you eat there.
Franklin Fountain
Cost: $4 and up
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sun: 11pm-12am
The Franklin Fountain is an old-timey soda shop that has a ton of delicious ice cream and sundae choices. You can also grab a soda float or try one of their fun flavored sodas. This is a fun place to grab a sweet treat, especially on a hot day. The Franklin Fountain is one of the unique places to eat in Philadelphia.
Kalaya Thai Kitchen
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun (lunch): 11am-2pm
Kalaya Thai Kitchen is an authentic Thai restaurant with lots of good curries and stir fry. Make sure to order the Shaw Muang, these super cute and Instagrammable chicken dumplings. Keep in mind many of the dishes use fish oil, so ask ahead of time which ones do not to ensure you order the appropriate dishes. It is one of the fun places to eat in Philadelphia
La Llorona Cantina
Cost: $$
Hours: Tues-Thurs: 4pm-10pm, Fri: 4pm-12am, Sat: 2pm-12am, Sun: 11am-10pm (Closed Mondays)
La Llorona is a cute little Mexican restaurant in a random part of town, but do not let this deter you! They served some amazing tacos and had a ton of Mezcal options. They have a decent happy hour and tons of outdoor seating.
La Viola
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri: 11am-3pm, Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm, Sun: 5pm-10pm, Mon-Thurs (dinner): 5pm-10pm
This tiny Italian place serves delicious pasta and more. It also has a BYOB policy, so feel free to bring a bottle of wine to go with your meal. There is even a wine shop around the corner from the restaurant.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Cost: $$
Hours: 11am-2am
McGillin’s Olde Ale House is one of the best places to hang out in Philadelphia. McGillin’s is the oldest pub in Philadelphia. They brew their own beer, but also offer other beer selections and light eats. This is a great place to chill at the end of the night and rest your feet.
Morgan’s Pier
Cost: $-$$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 4pm-2am, Fri-Sun: 12pm-2am
Morgan’s Pier is a fantastic and fun place to go to grab a cocktail and a light bite to eat. It is located along the river with views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. In the evenings, there is a cover charge, so keep that in mind if visiting then. They also sometimes host special events throughout the year, so check the website for more information.
Picanha Brazilian Steakhouse
Cost: $$$
Hours: Varies by location
Picanha Brazilian Steakhouse is an amazing all-you-can-eat steakhouse. It is one of the best places to eat in Philadelphia. Brazilian Steakhouse brings various meats to your table which includes steaks, sausages, chicken, and more. They also have a buffet for sides and desserts. They often run specials so check the website for discount coupons to save some money and go with an empty belly.
Philly Cheesesteaks
Cost: $
Hours: Varies by location
A trip to Philadelphia is not complete without grabbing a cheesesteak. I have sampled quite a few cheesesteaks at places and these are some of the most popular options ranked. Make sure to get it with cheese wiz! I also personally like them without onions.
Tony Luke’s
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8am-12am, Fri-Sat: 8am-2am, Sun: 11am-8pm
Tony Luke’s is THE best place in Philadelphia to get a cheesesteak. In my opinion, they have the best cheesesteaks around town. Tony Luke’s has a good ratio of cheese to meat, and it is large enough to share if you would like. You can find their original location, founded in 1992, near the airport and also one in the Phillies stadium.
Campo’s
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9:30am-10pm, Sun: 9:30am-9pm
I like Campo’s because it is convenient to the downtown area and also has a good cheesesteak. Their cheese wiz is super tasty and the meat is very tender. It was originally established as a butcher shop in 1947 and became a deli in 1975. They have been voted one of the top cheesesteak places in Philly.
Pat’s King of Steaks
Hours: Open 24 hours
Pat’s King of Steaks is one of the original Philly Cheesesteak places. It was founded by Pat Olivieri in 1930 and is said to be the creator of the cheesesteak. Although it is a bit out of the way, it is worth heading down to Pat’s to grab a cheesesteak.
Sonny’s Famous Steaks
Hours: 11am-10pm
Sonny’s is located down the street from Campo’s and is also popular for its cheesesteaks. They also have hamburgers and grilled cheeses if you are tired of cheesesteaks.
Geno’s Steaks
Hours: Open 24 hours
Geno’s was founded in 1966 and is another well-known spot for cheesesteaks. It is located right across from Pat’s, so I suggest trying both in one go!
Reading Terminal Market
Hours: 8am-6pm
The Reading Terminal Market opened in 1893 and has endless food options. I like that you can go with a group and everyone can try different things. I have tried quite a few of the stalls, and the following are some of my favorites.
Beiler’s Bakery
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Sat: 8am-6pm (closed Sundays)
Beiler’s Bakery is known for its donuts. The line for these donuts are usually wrapped around the market. Make sure to get there first thing in the morning to beat the rush and get your choice of donuts.
Dutch Eating Place
Cost: $$
Hours: Tues-Wed: 8am-3pm, Thurs-Sat: 8am-5pm
For breakfast, I recommend the Dutch Eating Place. This quaint little breakfast place is run by the Pennsylvania Dutch. It is an affordable place where visitors can get a filling breakfast and it was delicious.
Famous 4th Street Cookie Company
Cost: $
Hours: 8am-6pm
These cookies make for a perfect snack after a meal and are baked fresh every day. I like that they have a variety of flavors. Food Network has named them one of the best cookies in Philadelphia.
Franks-a-Lot
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 10am-5pm
Franks-a-Lot is known for its sausages and hot dogs. They have been serving some of the best Philly hot dogs since 1982. They have all sorts of types as well as hamburgers and chicken if hot dogs are not your thing. Make sure to get a side of chili-cheese fries or onion rings with it!
There is a surprising amount of amazing delicious places to eat in Philadelphia. You will not find a shortage of great meals to be had. Looking for more fabulous cities to eat in? Head to New York or Washington, DC to some other amazing eats. What are some of your favorite places to eat in Philadelphia?
1 thought on “20+ Best Places to Eat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Ultimate Philly Foodie Guide (2023)”
Definitely a few places on here on my radar for my trip there this weekend. I wish I could get to them all!