Best of Philadelphia
Where locals eat in Philadelphia
Start with South Philly Barbacoa in Italian Market for lamb barbacoa tacos and the consommé, Laser Wolf in Fishtown for the skewers, which come with salatim and dessert and Abyssinia in West Philly for a combination platter on injera. Here are all 11, with what to get at each.
- South Philly BarbacoaItalian Market
Get: Lamb barbacoa tacos and the consommé
Cristina Martínez's weekend lamb tacos, a Netflix Chef's Table subject.
- Laser WolfFishtown · Israeli skewers
Get: the skewers, which come with salatim and dessert. Book ahead
Buzzy Fishtown spot built around a skewer-focused Israeli shipudiya with a lively mezze spread.
- Ralph's Italian RestaurantBella Vista / Italian Market · Italian American
Taylor Swift ate here after a 2013 concert and left a $500 tip.
- Dante & Luigi'sBella Vista
Get: the gnocchi and the baked lasagna. Philadelphia's oldest Italian restaurant
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What are the local restaurants in Philadelphia?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with South Philly Barbacoa (Italian Market), Laser Wolf (Fishtown) and Abyssinia (West Philly). All 11 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At South Philly Barbacoa, get lamb barbacoa tacos and the consommé. At Laser Wolf, get the skewers, which come with salatim and dessert. Book ahead. At Abyssinia, get a combination platter on injera. West Philly's go-to Ethiopian. At Federal Donuts, get the fried chicken with a honey donut on the side.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Philadelphia?
Most of these are in Fishtown. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Philadelphia: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Philadelphia
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.