As hard as it is to believe, the Philadelphia food scene has more than just cheesesteaks.
Over the past decade or more, Philly has increasingly become a top destination for foodies. I should know, I lived there for seven years and am very much a foodie myself. Those of us foodies “in the know” have surely heard of the more famous places like Zahav, Barbuzzo, Parc, and Vedge.
But those of us really in the know – as in, those of us who have actually lived in Philadelphia – recognize that there are many equally amazing restaurants that fall under the radar. And many times, they’re cheaper (maybe this is why they fall under the radar? I feel like sociologists must have studied this).
Here’s a list of four of those hidden gem restaurants that tourists can’t afford to keep sleeping on. And as a side note, every restaurant on this list has a fabulous list of options for both vegan and gluten free folks.
Cuisine: Thai/Laotian
Neighborhood: West Philly
The restaurant started in the owner’s backyard on a “blue tarp” where guests were treated to Laotian cuisine for $3 a plate. Of course, this ad-hoc setup was shut down, but the owner decided to turn it into an actual restaurant. To this day, it’s the best Thai and Laotian restaurant I’ve ever tried (someday, I plan to eat my way through Southeast Asia, so this may change).
My personal recommendation is the pad see ew, and the naam salad which knocked my socks off. But I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve tried. Curries, dumplings, they have it all. It’s also an affordable option for those of us who like duck.
Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhood: Old City
My friends and I used to go here whenever we craved Indian cuisine. Karma has a very unassuming storefront tucked into a neighborhood buzzing with bars and restaurants serving just about every kind of cuisine you can imagine. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, but you won’t regret sitting down to dinner.
A friend from Hyderabad, India – a place known for biryani – swore by Karma’s biryani. The lamb vindaloo is also a popular choice. Just don’t forget the garlic naan!
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Neighborhood: West Philly
Normally, when people think of Ethiopian food in the US, Washington, DC is the first place that comes to mind. However, even in DC, I would sometimes think about the Ethiopian cuisine in Philly. And Kaffa Crossing was one of those places that always came to mind.
I got to know Kaffa Crossing very well while living in West Philly. In fact, it was sometimes a meeting hub for neighborhood and grassroots groups. A lot of us would order the full, which is a dish made from mashed fava beans. I also loved the kik aletcha (split peas) and miso (lentil) wats (stews) with injera bread. Frankly, you can’t go wrong here.
Cuisine: Cafe/bakery
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
This is a bit of an unusual entry because it’s more of a cafe than a restaurant. But it’s not every day that you can have eight types of hot chocolate in a place that doubles as an active art gallery. I loved the Mexican hot chocolate, but you can’t go wrong here. There’s also an extensive list of other drinks, like tea and Italian sodas. Pair it with a pastry.
These are my four top picks but I’m looking for a fifth restaurant. Where would you recommend?
*Note: Photos are from the restaurants' public Facebook pages and are not my property.
Ooh, will have to check next time. Ty!
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