Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Inside the 76: Philly's next generation of classic restaurants

by Staff Reports
Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Tap to see more

a.kitchen (Center City)

Allie Ippolito / Staff Photographer / Allie Ippolito / Staff Photograp

The French-leaning cooking is both forward-thinking and approachable — always seasonal, often surprising, and unfailingly reliable. It's wine program is another Philly best. Read more. — Esra Erol

Amma’s South Indian Kitchen (Center City)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

The towering dosa is a tribute to Mama, for whom the restaurant is also named. Beyond the myriad dosas, there are medhu vadai fritters, chile-spiced chukka, fluffy idlis, and kothu parotta. Read more. — Craig LaBan

Angelo’s Pizzeria (South Philadelphia)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Is this cash-only Bella Vista takeout the best pizzeria, sandwich shop, or cheesesteak slinger? With seeded rolls, thin crusts, grandmas, and upside-down Sicilians, it’s the full South Philly experience. Read more. — Michael Klein

Bolo (Center City)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Nowhere puts Boricua flavors on a pedestal quite like Bolo. Chef Yun Fuentes offers dishes like lechon asado, vaca frita, and duck arepas. Pair with a tropical drink and finish with cafe Cubano and buñuelos. Read more. — Craig LaBan

Cafe Nhan (South Philadelphia)

MONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer

This cozy spot on West Passyunk, run by Nhan Vo and Andrew Dinh Vo, is known for the city’s best bún bò Huế. Regulars love the chicken curry, pho, bánh mì, lemongrass chicken, and crispy fish sauce wings. Read more. — Craig LaBan

Cantina La Martina (River Wards)

Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer

Dionicio Jiménez’s first restaurant showcases Mexican cooking from Puebla. The goat barbacoa, aguachiles, machete quesadillas, and insect-inspired dishes are standouts. Read more. — Craig LaBan

Friday Saturday Sunday (Center City)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

This intimate townhouse, named America’s "Outstanding Restaurant" in 2023, offers an eight-course tasting menu. Try the tortellini with country ham or jerk-spiced quail. The downstairs bar is a gem for cocktails. Read more.Craig LaBan

Gabriella’s Vietnam (South Philadelphia)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

For chef Thanh Nguyen, showing “the world what real Vietnamese food is” includes water fern dumplings, beef carpaccio, Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm vermicelli platter with blood sausage, and the catfish with turmeric and dill. Read more. — Craig LaBan

Heavy Metal Sausage Co. (South Philadelphia)

Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

Whether you crave a lieberwurst sandwich, fresh country pâté, or a multicourse dinner, Heavy Metal Sausage Co. delivers. The trattoria dinners are some of the most adventurous in town. Read more.— Craig Laban

Kilimandjaro (West Philadelphia)

Allie Ippolito / For The Inquirer

Kilimandjaro’s atmosphere is casual, but the food is as serious an example of Senegalese flavors. The menu is small, with just eight options for either lunch or dinner, but everything hits. Read more. — Margaret Eby

Pera Turkish Cuisine (Northern Liberties)

MONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer

Whenever I swipe a pita through the meze platter at Pera, dabbing at the creamy eggplant puree or tangy ezme, I’m reminded why this BYOB is packed. Anything off of Pera's grill is great. Read more.Craig LaBan

Sophie’s Kitchen (South Philadelphia)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Sophie’s Kitchen, a BYOB, serves some of the best Cambodian dishes on the East Coast. The menu features prahok kteah dip, green papaya salad, lemongrass stir-fries, somlaw machu kroeung, and crispy chicken wings. Read more. — Craig LaBan

White Yak Restaurant (Roxborough - Manayunk)

Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

The momos — chili variety, pleated Himalayan dumplings, or moneybag-shaped fried firecrackers in tangy sauce — merit a trek to this Tibetan BYOB, and Chef-owner Treley Parshingtsang has other tricks up her sleeve. Read more. — Jenn Ladd