Alison B. Kessler
Senior Editor, Philadelphia
Alison worked on food and lifestyle brands before joining The Infatuation. She’s adamant about ranch dressing with her pizza.
PHLGuide
Philadelphia’s Best New Restaurants Of 2024
All the spots we can't stop talking about.
photo credit: Gab Bonghi
In 2024, exorbitant omakase and tasting menu spots opened faster than cheesesteak meat could be chopped. But for every one of those expensive special occasion restaurants, we got a fantastic new grab-and-go place. Tasty handhelds were everywhere—puffy pastelillos in Fishtown, unforgettable empanadas in South Philly, and za'atar danishes in Center City. True to form, slices and sandwiches popped up everywhere from Port Richmond to Passyunk. Chef collabs dominated, once again, as did Citywides (though they taste a little different than they used to).
Some of the year’s best restaurants were the least classifiable—like an Indian grill that could wow a Weber-obsessed dad, and an all-day cafe and restaurant that’s part-Morocco, part-Paris. Whether you’re looking for a casual neighborhood spot or a place to save for when the Eagles win the championship, Philly’s got an incredible new restaurant to match. These are the best new restaurants of 2024.
(And if you're looking for the best restaurants in Philly, full stop, we've got them here).
What Our Ratings Mean
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No rating: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop. We only rate spots where you can eat a full meal.
THE SPOTS
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Provenance serves excellent, over-the-top French-meets-Korean food in a luxe setting that's never stiff.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
Sipping champagne, already about six dishes in, when the kanpachi with mussel vinaigrette and Jimmy Nardello peppers appeared. It’s simultaneously smooth, crunchy, and savory with a touch of heat.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A VERY SPECIAL DATE NIGHT
The tasting menu is ever-changing, so whether you get duck three ways or scallops in a kimchi beurre blanc is out of your hands. Add on the $140 wine pairing if you want to amp up the experience.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Ambra, River Twice, Royal Omakase, and fancy Fig Newtons and Mallomars.
RESERVE A TABLE
POWERED BY
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You'll have to jump through hoops to get one of these Trenton-style pies. But the thin and crunchy no-flop pizzas are worth the hassle.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
After watching other people pick up their pizzas over the course of 56 torturous minutes, we finally got our own. We burnt the roof of our mouths, but it was still the best slice we’ve had all year.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A GROUP ON EAGLES GAME DAY
Come during halftime—wait times will be shorter than usual, and the Eagles can disappoint you just as easily from here. Get one of each style, plus a vodka sauce pie with pepperoni and hot honey, too (only available on Sundays).
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Crispy pizza, Pizzeria Beddia, and lovingly making fun of New Jersey.
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It might seem like another casual South Philly spot, but this colorful Mexican BYOB serves elevated fusion food.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
When we fought over who got the last empanada while drinking Agua de Jamaica mixed with tequila we brought ourselves. We made up and just got another order of empanadas.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A DOUBLE DATE
Guacamole, chicken empanadas (see above), tuna tostadas, lamb barbacoa tacos, quesabirria tacos, and elote.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
BYOBs, El Chingon, and Mexican pop music.
$$$$
Pizza Richmond has an ’80s pizza party feel and vintage games, but the headliner here is the thin crust pizza.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
When we bit into a blistery pizza topped with long hots next to vintage Spider-Man comics.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A PIZZA PARTY FOR FOUR
Tomato pie, caesar salad, a pepperoni pie, a cheese pie, the special of the week, 1-900-ICE-CREAM, and extra napkins.
GO IF YOU LIKE
Pizza Shackamaxon, Pizzeria Beddia, or eating your weight in carbs.
$$$$
Come join a line of people complaining about the Eagles and discussing what they ordered the last time they were here. Spoiler alert: it was the pork pastelillos.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
We got three warm guava bbq pork pastelillos for under $20. They were perfect.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR DINNER WITH YOUR THREE VEGAN FRIENDS
Vegano bowl, soy chorizo and potato pastelillo, yuca and gandules pastelillo, yuca, sweet plantains. Yes, the meat here is great, but they do vegan just as well.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
El Sabor Restaurant, Boricua 2, and savory handheld treats.
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This omakase treats every guest like a VIP and gives the same attention to their buttery nigiri and sake highballs.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
Scented. Suede. Hand. Towels.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR DINNER WITH YOUR SWANKIEST FRIEND
It’s omakase, so every meal here is a little different and totally up to the chef.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Being treated like Philly royalty, sleek wood-paneled rooms, whiskey highballs, Royal Sushi.
POWERED BY
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At this Nepali restaurant in Fairmount, you’ll find one thing: intensely flavorful, delightfully chewy momo.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
When we chugged chicken jhol momo broth like beer at Oktoberfest.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A RAINY DAY MEAL FOR TWO
Shrimp tandoori momo, chicken jhol momo, vegetable jimboo le janeko momo, and lychee lassi.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Deliciously spicy pouches that may reduce you to tears, dumplings of all sorts.
$$$$
Sofi serves an all-day French-Moroccan menu and delicate pastries in a golden-yellow dining room in Center City.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
Sharing a perfectly toasty croque madame and airy quiche lorraine while basking in the sunlight on their back patio.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A FIRST DATE
The tangy zaalouk salad, sweet and savory chicken pastilla, the best lamb tagine in town, and a slice of the date and walnut cake. Don’t forget to BYOB.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Marrakesh, fall-off-the-bone lamb, belly dancers, and fancy tea service.
$$$$
High Street bakes some of the best bread in the city, plus unforgettable pastries, sourdough pizza, and sandwiches.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
When the fennel sausage pizza with marjoram made us emotional.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A GROUP LUNCH
The grain salad, Happy Valley burger, crispy chicken hoagie, and fennel sausage pizza. Oh, and an assortment of pastries. We don’t care that you’re full.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
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POWERED BY
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Indian Char House's dishes stay true to their turmeric, cardamom, and garam masala-spiced origins, and add char from the grill.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
When we shared a picture of the perfectly charred-on-the-outside, pink-on-the-inside lamb chop with all four of our group texts.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR DINNER WITH CO-WORKERS
Lasooni gobi, red snapper, lamb chop, butter chicken, chili naan, and garlic naan.
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Amma’s, Indian food that will impress someone who grills like it’s a sport.
$$$$
You can get great drinks, burgers, and fantastic pub grub here, all while wearing a South Philly High T-shirt.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
The exact second the bright blue doors reopened after five years closed.
A PERFECT ORDER FOR A CASUAL TUESDAY WHEN THE GAME IS ON AND YOUR FRIENDS WANT TO SH*T TALK
Caesar salad, smoked beef and bologna sandwich, fish sandwich, Royal burger, and grilled cheese. And several rounds of beer (or cocktails, which they also make very well).
GO IF YOU LIKE…
Meetinghouse, Grace and Proper, having a personal sandwich-eating contest.