Philly list

May 10, 2026

These are places in Philly I like. This list is non-exhaustive and will continue to be updated.

Coffee

I am a coffee snob, so this list is short intentionally.

Thank You Thank You: Tiny shop, great coffee, great vibe. Nice hang if you can get a seat. S-Tier roaster, probably the best in the city.
Elixr: S-Tier, one of the best roasters in the city. All locations are a good hang and a nice place to sit for a bit.
Menagerie: Small cafe, relaxed, good vibe.
Caphe Roasters: Vietnamese coffee, great food, good vibe.
ReAnimator: Consistent, good coffee but lower on the short list.

Best roasters in the city are Thank You Thank You (S-Tier), Elixr (S-Tier) and ReAnimator (A-Tier). If you know you know, and now you do.

Time: Good jazz bar, shows always rip.
Solar Myth: Go for coffee, good vibe during the day.
Barcade: Arcade bar. Same feeling as playing super monkey ball with friends.
Queen & Rook: Board game cafe, they have every board game known to man. Good vibes.
Franklin Fountain: Probably the best ice cream in the city.
Cherry Street Pier: Warehouse art space on the water. Good for wandering around, hanging out by the water, and catching events.
Kung Fu Necktie: Go for emo night. Only go if you are prepared to be in a mild mosh pit.
Tattooed Mom: Go for perogi night.

Terakawa Ramen: Best ramen on the entire East Coast, possibly the country. This is not a joke. Specifically the Chinatown location. Get the mini curry chicken bowl as an appetizer do not skip this.
Morimoto: Keep coming back to this being the best overall omakase in the city. A lot more depth and variety than most omakase spots. Good atmosphere, good sushi on any day.
Royal Izakaya: If omakase is your thing.
Laser Wolf: Israeli skewer house, same owner as Zahav.
Neighborhood Ramen: They used to be in South Philly and moved the shop to Tokyo in 2026. RIP, it was so good. Still putting this on the list on the off chance they ever do something in Philly again.
Loco Pez: Go for dollar taco night. They also have a cool jukebox that spins physical records. Go to Rosy's Taco bar for dollar tacos if you want less of a divey vibe.
Red Hook: Good breakfast sandwiches.
Dim Sum House by Jane G: Best Dim Sum in the city, specifically the Rittenhouse location.
Chubby Cattle: Good hot pot.
Gyu-Kaku: Japanese BBQ. Good flavors, fun with a good group.
Tuna Bar: Consistently good sushi that is above the quality bar. Get the miso honey glaze brussels sprouts.