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

The sheer volume of Mexican restaurants on South 9th Street can be daunting—many are excellent, but how do you pick? The family-run Blue Corn consistently delivers, serving Pueblan cuisine with personality like tacos al pastor (taco made with spit-grilled pork) and queso fundido (hot melted cheese with spicy chorizo) alongside harder-to-find specialties like huaraches (crispy masa–pinto bean flatbreads) or whole fish stuffed with the corn truffle huitlacoche. Warm service and killer cocktails round out the experience. Note that it is cash only.

Vietnamese food is very popular in Philadelphia, and many people have a local pho spot that they frequent multiple times a week. Gabriella's, though, showcases regional dishes with light, flavorful, and addictive menu items like steamed water fern dumplings, savory crepes wrapped in herbs and lettuce, and stir-fried soft shell crab. 

Philadelphia native Alex Yoon is the chef and owner of the tiny but beloved BYOB where creativity and inspiration run the show. The menu changes all the time, but the scallop toast, where raw scallops are shingled across a thick slice of sesame sourdough and topped with chopped herbs, is a favorite that diners return for over and over.

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.

If you want to avoid the neon-lit tourist-center of cheesesteaks and go where the locals go, head to Cosmi's. It's a true Philadelphia corner deli, where all the meat is cut to order and the person taking your order will let you know if they think you're ordering incorrectly; we suggest trying a cheesesteak on a seeded roll with Cooper sharp cheese and fried onions to taste what the hype is all about.

Queen Villagers shed tears of joy when longtime neighborhood restaurateur Bridget Foy introduced this easy-to-love restaurant, specializing in handmade pastas and wine priced to glug. You’ll spot plenty of young families with kids in tow in the early dinner hours, while the crowd gets a little more grown-up later in the evening. Regardless of your timing, the tagliatelle, cavatelli, assorted bruschetta, and slew of plates both small and shareable make Cry Baby a lively neighborhood hangout.

Established in 1899 in the heart of Philly's Italian Market, Dante & Luigi's is located in two gorgeously appointed converted town houses. The menu features old-world Italian cuisine like red-sauce pasta, lasagna (some say it's the best in Philly), and osso buco.

Housed in a former warehouse, this local brewery is a welcoming all-day destination for South Philadelphians; it's an ideal stop for large groups, and it's kid-friendly. The menu items, which all pair well with the dozen beers on tap, range from wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches (try the roast Italian pork or the double smashburger) to shareable plates like honey whipped ricotta served with crostini and fresh naan, fried mozzarella, or chicken wings.

Specializing in French country cooking and expertly selected wines, the Good King offers casual Gallic flair at accessible neighborhood prices. Pair a socca (chickpea pancake) platter or steak frites with a glass or pitcher of house red or white, helpfully classified “Good,” “Better,” and “Best.” The bar also makes a mean cocktail, with daily changing specials. Upstairs is the natural-wine bar Le Caveau, pouring Thursday to Saturday.

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 and that focus has been sharpened for years. 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.

Competition is fierce in South Philly’s “Little Saigon,” but Nam Phuong has managed to keep fans of Vietnamese cuisine happy for years with its wide-spanning menu. Far more spacious than some of the spartan pho parlors around the neighborhood, the dining room is equipped with round tables that can fit the whole crew—and all your food, too. Customizable vermicelli bowls and broken rice platters are a good starting point to warm you up for house specialties like salt-and-pepper squid, clay pot fish, or crispy roasted quail; for an especially large group, prix-fixe “family dinners” feed an army for a flat price.

Just steps from the heart of the historic Italian Market, Paffuto is a new-school Italian-American bakery and sandwich shop. Go for their maritozzo, a whipped cream-filled bun that's perfect for dipping in coffee. They also serve dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—reservations are a must.

Chef-owner Lou Boquila brings his modern interpretations of Philippine cuisine to South Philly with this romantic BYOB. Wednesday to Sunday, Boquila creates the popular kamayan dinner (a Filipino style of communal eating without plates or utensils), which features loads of delicious food presented to the table on banana-leaf placemats. You’re not only allowed, but encouraged, to eat with your hands.

Owned and operated by the fourth and fifth generation of the Dispigno/Rubino family, Ralph's is in the running for one of the country's oldest Italian restaurants. You can expect Italian-American favorites like sausage and peppers, osso buco, and braciole, as well as house specialties like lasagna and fettuccini Alfredo; just don't forget to bring cash.

Chef Randy Rucker does seasonal, elevated food inspired by many things, including his southern heritage, love of Philadelphia, and interest in Japanese cooking. Go here for modern dishes like swordfish with housemade yuzu kosho (a Japanese condiment made from fresh citrus), carrot tartare with black truffles, very fresh oysters, and the Mother Rucker, a burger that's available as an add-on to the tasting menu.

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.

Co-owners Chris D'Ambro and Marina de Oliveira run this beloved neighborhood restaurant that has one of the city's best bars. The menu features seasonal produce prepared using Italian techniques; the house-made pastas are always a good bet, and their burger is among the best in the city. The intimate bar is as romantic as it is comfortable. On Monday, their sommelier takes over for a wine-focused bar night and there's a limited food-menu and a by-the-glass menu featuring reserve bottles.

A newer addition to East Passyunk's array of restaurants, this hybrid French wine bar and bottle shop has a food menu that's perfect for nearly any time of day, and a small market selection for takeaway. Sip a glass of biodynamic French wine while you nibble a jambon beurre sandwich, or snag an outdoor table and a martini for some people-watching along the Avenue. The space has lots of seating and though it does get busy in the evenings, if you loiter a little with your glass of wine, a table is sure to open up.