The 5 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia

1. Buddakan

Buddakan is one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia because it serves up Asian fusion at its finest, as you might guess from the giant gilded Buddha statute that greets you in the dining room. Japanese, You'll find a mix of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean dishes, with many familiar items like dumplings, spring rolls, fried rice, and pad Thai.

Go with a group so you can sample more than one entree. Save room for amazingly creative and delicious desserts that make it one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, like Dip Sum Donuts or Baked Alaska made with passion fruit sorbet and coconut ice cream.

2. Alma de Cuba

Alma de Cuba is a bit pricey, but it's well worth the cost because it's one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. The authentic yet eclectic Cuban/Latin fare is a delight to the taste buds, and the wine list is amazingly extensive.

Dishes like rum-cured smoked marlin or chorizo sliders might tempt you, but the cerviche is what truly makes this one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. And what would a Cuban restaurant be without a cigar? At Alma de Cuba, it's not the kind for smoking, but rather an almond cake wrapped in chocolate mousse.

3. Honey's Sit n' Eat

Not all of the best restaurants in Philadelphia are fancy places. Honey's Sit n' Eat is an unassuming Southern-style eatery, but the crowds clamoring to get in for breakfast will tip you off that this is one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia.

The chicken fried steak is heart and authentic, the orange juice is freshly squeezed, and selections like the Po' Boy breakfast sandwich or the peanut butter French toast will start your day off right. Go during the week for shorter waits, but it's also well worth braving the weekend crowd.

4. Kanella

Kanella is a traditional Greek restaurant, with all the expected offerings, like pita bread and dipping sauces, stuffed grape leaves, saganaki, kabobs, and lamb, and the painstaking preparation makes it one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. Kanella doesn't serve alcohol, but the lemonnana (a blend of half lemonade and half mint iced tea) is very refreshing. Kanella is family friendly, and its relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place for socializing. It's one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia because it has the full package of delicious food, good service, and a friendly, casual ambiance.

5. Tommy DiNic's

DiNic's is a favorite with locals who know that it's one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, even though it's just a casual spot to grab a quick bite in the Reading Terminal Market. It gained notoriety when it appeared on the Food Channel's “Man Vs. Food.”

That didn't scare away the neighborhood crowd because its Italian pulled pork sandwich is worth braving a crowd. DiNic's proves that an eatery doesn't have to be a fancy sit-down place to be one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia.

Just in case you did just come to Philly for the cheesesteak, here’s our list of the best cheesesteaks in Philly.