1. Gabriella’s Vietnam
This is my favorite and the best Vietnamese restaurant I’ve been to on the East Coast. They serve up authentic Vietnamese dishes and street eats. Their shaken beef is the best I’ve ever had — so tender, well-marinated, and full of black pepper flavor. The water fern dumplings are delicious and fun to eat (it’s almost like you’re slurping on dumpling oysters). The chicken wings with fish sauce are addictive. This place is seriously good.
What to order:
🥩: Shaken beef (wok-charred marinated filet mignon with onion, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes)
🍳: Savory crepes (egg crepes with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, herbs, and lettuce)
🥟: Water fern dumplings (steamed rice cakes with minced shrimp, pork crackling, fried shallot, and scallion)
🍗: Chicken wings with fish sauce
🍢: Lemongrass tofu
2. Qu Japan Bistro & Bar
If you’re looking for quality sushi at a reasonable price, Qu Japan is the place for you. Be sure to stop by during their happy hour — they offer an extensive menu and everything is only $6!
What to order:
🍣: Tuna avocado, eel avocado, toro scallion, spicy crunch yellowtail, and spicy crunch salmon roll
🐙: Takoyaki
3. Kalaya
Kalaya is in the top three of my favorite Thai restaurants ever. I’ve had my fair share of Thai food, but they served up flavors that I hadn’t experienced at any other Thai restaurant before. Because this place is on the pricey side, I suggest going with a small group of friends, ordering a couple of the mains (especially the curries) and pairing them with a side of sticky or jasmine rice so that you can get a good sample of the menu.
What to order:
🥟: Shaw muang (flower-shaped dumplings with ground chicken filling, cucumber, red chili, and cilantro)
🦀: Pu pad pong karee (yellow curry with crab meat, eggs, evaporated milk, onions, scallions, Chinese celery, and chili oil)
🍛: Chu chee hoi shell (curry with scallops, coconut cream, long hot peppers, and kaffir lime leaves)
🍍: Coconut panna cotta with marinated pineapples
🍰: White chocolate trifle with passion fruit
4. Ratchada Thai & Laos Cuisine
Ratchada is my go-to Thai place in Philly. I especially appreciate that desirable wok flavor they have in their stir-fried dishes. Super solid all around and you won’t be disappointed.
What to order:
🍜: Pad kee mao (stir-fried rice noodles with spicy basil sauce, tomato, onion, bell pepper, chicken, and string beans)
🍚: Green curry fried rice (eggs, onion, carrot, string bean, Thai basil, bell pepper, chicken, green curry sauce)
5. Càphê Roasters
I absolutely adore this cafe. It’s a fun place to hang out with friends while noshing on some delicious Vietnamese street food. The cafe’s interior decor is modern, yet gives off lively and cozy vibes. They have amazing coffee drinks to pair with the food — seriously, two of my favorite things in one. My favorite item to get there is the XO egg sando. I have literally gotten it every time I went.
What to order:
🥪: XO egg sando (Chinese sausage, XO aioli, eggs, cheddar), OG banh mi (Vietnamese ham, chicken paté, house mayo, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, jalapeño, herbs), and J Street sando (scrambled eggs, cheddar, pho herb roasted tomatoes, caramelized onion aioli)
☕: Egg coffee (egg custard, condensed milk, cocoa powder, Vietnamese espresso)
🍅: Cherry tomato toast (garlic confit spread, cherry tomatoes, red onion, mango, XO chili crunch, herbs, fish sauce vinaigrette)
🍚: Com tam thit nuong (broken rice, grilled lemongrass pork chop, papaya, lettuce, tomato, herbs, pickled carrot and daikon)
6. Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House
You have to go to try their braised beef noodle soup. The soup has an incredibly rich, beefy flavor. Coupled with slurpable noodles, it’s just the perfect meal on a chilly day or when you’re feeling under the weather.
What to order:
🍜: Braised sliced beef noodle soup
7. Southeast Asian Food Market at FDR Park
Check this place out if you’re looking for a fun, outdoor eating experience. There are over 20 vendors selling all kinds of delicious street eats and drinks every weekend. Most food items range from $2-$4 and you can find anything from grilled meats to noodles to desserts. There is truly something for everyone here.
What to get:
🥭: Mango sticky rice
🍗: Stuffed/grilled chicken wings, beef skewers, and sausages
🥤: Vietnamese coffee
🍚: Scallion rice cakes
8. Pho Ga Thanh Thanh
They focus on one thing here — chicken pho — and they do it well. Go here the next time you’re craving chicken noodle soup.
What to order:
🐔: Whole chicken and chicken pho noodle soup
Want more food recommendations? Let me know in the comments below.
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