16 Best Restaurants in East Passyunk, Queen Village, Bella Vista, and South Philadelphia, Philadelphia

John's Roast Pork

$ | South Philadelphia Fodor's choice

Housed in humble digs next to a defunct railroad crossing, John’s doesn’t wow with curb appeal, but wise eaters know the close-to-centenarian grill spot turns out some of Philly’s best sandwiches. Newbies and lifers alike line up in a zigzag along the counter, grabbing outdoor picnic tables after paying for their roast pork, roast beef, or cheesesteak. The namesake sandwich, a Philly Italian signature, is juicy, garlicky, and herbaceous; sharp provolone and sautéed spinach (no broccoli rabe here) are common add-ons. The roast beef and cheesesteak rival the pork in popularity, earning owner John Bucci Jr. loyal fans and national awards. They’re not open late, but do start early; staying true to their beginnings feeding Delaware River dock workers, they also do fluffy egg sandwiches layered with pork roll or crispy fried scrapple.

Laurel

$$$$ | East Passyunk Fodor's choice

Reservations at Laurel are typically a tough get, given its cozy 22-seat dining room and chef-owner’s Nicholas Elmi’s sterling reputation. But dinner at this intimate, candlelit hideaway is worth the effort for fans of the Top Chef season 11 winner’s elegant, intelligent French-American food, presented in six- or nine-course tasting formats five nights a week. In the Valley, Elmi’s attached wine bar and cocktail lounge, offers small plates and a place to hang before or after a Laurel reservation.

South Philadelphia Tap Room

$$ | South Philadelphia Fodor's choice

Championing craft beer well before it was cool, this laid-back Newbold tavern set the bar for Philly’s gastropub boom way back in 2003. SPTR’s ever-rotating 14 tap selections, plus cask ales and a nice bottle selection, hit local, national, and international notes that nicely accompany a menu that reaches well beyond the expected pub grub with creative snacks, sandwiches, and seasonal specials conceived to celebrate local and organic products and produce. The kitchen pays ample mind to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free guests, too; it’s this accommodating spirit that makes a neighborhood bar.

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South Philly Barbacoa

$ | South Philadelphia Fodor's choice

Cristina Martinez and Benjamin Miller specialize in barbacoa, the succulent, slow-cooked lamb of Martinez’s Mexican homeland. The couple and their staff chop the meat with cleavers and pile it on fluffy corn tortillas, which you top at the salsa station with strips of cactus paddle rajas, onion-laced pickled jalapeno escabeche, chopped cilantro, and fresh lime. Pancita tacos and a flavorful consommé soup made from the lamb’s drippings are must-orders, too. Go early, as they usually sell out at this four-day-a-week operation.

Anthony's Italian Coffee House

$ | Bella Vista

When you're ready for an atmospheric break, stop by Anthony's Italian Coffee House in the heart of the Italian Market. Here, to the strains of Frank Sinatra, you can sample a fresh panino with prosciutto and mozzarella or indulge in homemade cannoli or gelato imported from Italy.

Enjoy your espresso on the umbrella-covered 9th Street patio when weather permits.

Bing Bing Dim Sum

$$ | East Passyunk

Funky, unorthodox dim sum gets all the cool kids in the door at Bing Bing, which proudly bills itself as inauthentic. But beyond the high-low appeal of cheesesteak bao buns and corned beef ribs with beet barbecue sauce, there’s real finesse from chef Ben Puchowitz’s kitchen here. Bonus points for large-format cocktail pitchers and comfy booths modeled after Chinese wedding beds.

Bistrot La Minette

$$$$ | Bella Vista

The cheery atmosphere inside this long, narrow bistro exudes warmth and attention to detail, from the flea-market knickknacks picked out by chef Peter Woolsey and his Burgundian wife, Peggy, to the ceramic pitchers of house wine delivered to your table. Woolsey studied at the Cordon Bleu, fell in love with French food culture (and Peggy), and came back to his native Philadelphia to share the experience with his city; regulars swear by the mustard-braised rabbit with housemade pasta; pork cheeks braised in Malbec; and the exemplary desserts that speak to Woolsey's extensive training as a pastry chef.

Federal Donuts

$ | South Philadelphia

In 2011, the owners of the acclaimed Zahav partnered with a team of Philly food entrepreneurs to open the first Federal Donuts, and Philly quickly fell in love with the whimsical doughnut-and--fried chicken concept. The minichain now runs eight shops throughout the city, but this tiny flagship, on an unassuming corner in quiet Pennsport, is still going strong. FedNuts, as locals affectionately call it, offers both hot fresh and “fancy” doughnuts in an ever-changing array of flavors, plus fried chicken prepped in a variety of styles (za’atar-dusted; Korean-style chili garlic). They do excellent coffee and simple sandwiches, too, making it an everyday stop for neighborhood folks.

Geno's Steaks

$ | East Passyunk

Geno’s, open since 1966, is a fresh-faced upstart compared to neighboring rival Pat’s, which has been slinging steaks since 1930. That gulf manifests itself visually in the contrast between Pat's understated aesthetic and Geno's over-the-top use of neon, which burns so brightly astronauts can probably see it from space, and the fact that Geno's meat is sliced, not chopped. Some aficionados claim that the two serve wildly dissimilar products; others just don't get it, but it's always fun to taste-test, as the buses full of tourists who frequently make their way down this way can attest.

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Jim's Steaks

$ | Queen Village

You'll know you're nearing Jim's when the scent of frying onions overwhelms your senses—or when you see people lined up around the corner. Big, juicy cheesesteaks—shaved beef piled high on long crusty rolls—come off the grill with amazing speed when the counter workers hit their stride, whether it's lunchtime or late-night. Yell "wiz wit" (meaning: "Cheez Whiz and onions, please") for expedited ordering. Jim's is mostly takeout, but there are some tables and chairs upstairs.

Le Virtù

$$$$ | East Passyunk

Sublime charcuterie, ethereal pastas, and interesting wines by the glass are just a few of the details that make Le Virtù one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The sun-washed space began with a fierce dedication to the underappreciated region of Abruzzo, where the owners run culinary tours; that focus has been sharpened under the direction of talented chef Damon Menapace. Keep an eye out for Le Virtù’s events, which range from rare wine tastings to performances by visiting Abruzzese musicians. The quaint outdoor patio is one of the neighborhood's most charming alfresco options.

Pat's King of Steaks

$ | East Passyunk

New cheesesteak restaurants come and go, but two of the oldest—Pat's and Geno's, at 9th and Passyunk—have a long-standing feud worth weighing in on. It comes down to a matter of taste, as both serve equally generous portions of rib-eye steak, grilled onions, and melted provolone, American, or Cheez Whiz on freshly baked Italian rolls. The main differences, as far as we can tell: Pat's meat is chopped, and its shop’s exterior is a bit more understated than Geno's neon extravaganza.

Sam's Morning Glory Diner

$ | Bella Vista

The Morning Glory bills itself as a "finer diner," and offers traditional touches such as big mugs of steaming coffee, but the "finer" comes in the updated, wholesome versions of diner fare such as homemade ketchup on every table, curried tofu scrambles, thick pecan waffles with whipped peach butter, and flaky buttermilk biscuits that accompany breakfast. Unless you're an early weekend riser, weekdays are a better bet, as the wait for weekend brunch can be epic. Cash only.

South Street Souvlaki

$ | Queen Village

The first thing you'll see is the large rotisserie, trumpeting the ubiquitous gyro—tasty slices of meat are stuffed inside a large fresh pita, with tangy yogurt and some exemplary fresh veggies. Other Greek specialties, such as stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, and, of course, souvlaki, round out the menu. No pomp and circumstance here—just casual taverna fare and service that's often indifferent. But they must be doing something right—Souvlaki has been going strong since 1977, definitely a record on this mercurial street. A new, slightly upscale bistro recently debuted upstairs.

Tony Luke's

$ | South Philadelphia

The first Tony Luke’s—way down in deep South Philly, basically under I–95—earned such a reputation from truckers who’d pull off for hefty cheesesteaks and Italian pork sandwiches that word spread across the city, allowing charismatic namesake Tony Lucidonio Jr. to expand the brand to multiple states. Little more than a walk-up window and a scattering of seats, this original location is still humming, and its generous early-morning and weekend late-night hours accommodate early birds, night owls, and the hungry people who fall somewhere in between.

Townsend

$$$$ | Rittenhouse Square

Chef Townsend "Tod" Wentz moved his eponymous French eatery to Rittenhouse Square for more space, more foot traffic, and to welcome more visitors who come into town by public transit. The new space is larger and sleeker than the former East Passyunk digs, but the menu is still anchored in traditional French cuisine—think escargots, roasted duck, pot de crème, and sauces that cloak the tongue like silk pajamas. It’s all served by a supersmart staff who can answer any question thrown at them; the young general manager–sommelier trains them in the offbeat wines selected from producers in Austria, Alicante, and the Sierra foothills. Late night, the bar is a magnet for an industry crowd.

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