The Best Fishtown Restaurants in Philadelphia
Located along the Delaware River in the Northeastern part of Philadelphia, Fishtown offers a diversely rich, charming, and even brotherly community of bicoastal and rich cultures. From the old rustic look, the town has become a vibrant area that has evolved because of the influx of artists, musicians, and professionals who now live here. Fishtown restaurants are quite diverse, as cuisines and cultures are intertwined in this town. Here are some food recommendations worth trying during your next visit.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 4, 2021 and last updated on March 23, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink around Philadelphia, check out our city page.
1. Suraya
1528 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 302-1900
Suraya is named after the grandmother of the two owners, whose origin is traced to Beirut. It is owned by Roland Kassis and his sister Nathalie Richan in partnership with Greg Root and chef Nick Kennedy.
Suraya is the restaurant to dine in Fishtown. Awarded 2018, 2019 Eater Philly’s Restaurant of the Year in the Eater Award, this restaurant is the best there is.
With a mix of Lebanese and European cuisines and ambience, you are in for a treat as you enter and dine. They have an open breathtaking garden dining area as well. Suraya specializes in Lebanese fares such as manoushe (flatbread with toppings) and hummus in the day and kebabs and whole grilled fish in the evening. The siblings’ owners grew up in Beirut and cook Beirut cuisine inspired by their childhood.
They also offer Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails, a mix brought by their two partners named after a Lebanese poet – Khalil Gibran; these cocktails are unlike any other in Philadelphia. Suraya has an indoor specialty market where they sell olive oils and spices in their market.
2. Pizzeria Beddia
1313 N Lee St, Philadelphia, PA 19125
(267) 928-2256
The restaurant is owned by the pizza master Joe Beddia nicknamed the ‘pizza Jesus’ by his patrons. His pizza was in 2015 named Bon Appetit, the best pizza in the country. This Pizzeria is one of the best restaurants in Fishtown for pizza.
It is located in Lee street, a small space restaurant packed mostly with long queues of hungry customers waiting in line. It is a foodie destination well a ‘Mecca’ in Fishtown. Reservation has to be done and the wait can last up to two months. Huh! You’ll wonder, but yes, it is that popular.
The wine list is great too, the ambience homely and the laughter and chatting of customers fill the air.
3. Kalaya Thai Market
764 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 385-3777
The restaurant is owned by celebrated chef Nok, who in 2019 won the chef of the year, a three-bell review, and a finalist in the James Beard Foundation. Kalaya specializes in spicy Thai cuisine with ready to cook ingredients to her customers. Chef Nok is a thrill literally; she hand-makes curries a rarity in the area and sells at their rotating selection shelves. You also get ready grab-and-go dishes too featuring Thai salads, stir-fries and curries that can be eaten at home.
They are private cooking classes for eager clients on-site, and she occasionally welcomes guest chefs to cook and sell their food. Among the first chefs was food network chopped champion and organizer Gregory Headen to use the space. Kalaya Thai Market sells a mix of prepared foods and ingredients for cooking at home.
4. Huda
32 S 18th St Philadelphia, PA 19103
(445) 544-8025
The restaurant is owned by Chef Yehuda Sichel, who previously worked at celebrated city restaurant Zahav and Abel Fisher. He specializes in a variety of sandwiches inspired by different cuisines. Specialties include grilled swordfish with tartar sauce and Napa Slaw. Make sure to try out the fresh sourdough and milk bread all made in house by the chef.
This sandwich specialty restaurant, without a doubt, rises to among the best in Fishtown restaurants.
5. nunu
1414 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 278-2804
This is a Japanese izakaya located in Fishtown. The restaurant’s interior is club-like with red paint, red lights, and Japanese lanterns hanging above the bar area. Among the absolute favourites to have in Nunu is the Pork Katsu’ sando’ the milk bread and cabbage coleslaw topped with McDonald’s type fries is amazing. It is a great meeting place with nice food to boot.
6. LMNO
1739-1749 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 770-7001
With a modern approach to Mexican dishes, LMNO is a hot spot that folks in Fishtown can’t get enough of. It has a clubby feel with dark mood lighting and a neon bar on the inside, but a bright, verdant outside that’s great on sunny afternoons. Come by for something cooked over their woodfire grill, like their Pescado Zarandeado – a grilled whole seabass with dashi-achiote marinade – and the grilled Esquites, tacos, tostadas and more!
7. Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop
1 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
215-423-5637
Joe’s has been in the cheesesteak game for over seven decades. They’ve got all the classic sandwiches, but it’s all about the Cheesesteak, which you can get with your choice of cheese and a side of peppers and pickles if you request them (which you should). Accompany your sandwich with Old Bay French Fries or Buffalo Chicken Fries and maybe a milkshake or sundae while you’re at it.
8. Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
215-634-3338
This German biergarten will have you saying “Prost!” in no time.
There’s so much to love about Frankford Hall, from the sprawling biergarten with firepits and picnic tables to the wide selection of German and American beers. Plus, the food menu is robust. Nothing goes with pilsners quite like a Warm Bavarian Pretzel (with cheese dip), Potato Pancakes with Smoked Salmon, Bratwurst (with sauerkraut), or a Schnitzel Sandwich (a breaded chicken, pork, or veal cutlet topped with curry mustard aioli, iceberg, lettuce, onion, and pickles)
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