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Bring Your Own Appetite

Pictured: Lolita

Map all locationsBYOB Restaurants – Bring Your Own Bottle

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May 23, 2013

May 22, 2013

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A Philadelphia diner’s favorite four letters: BYOB. That’s short for “Bring your own bottle” and that’s exactly what diners are doing throughout the region. Today’s BYOB landscape includes cozy mom-and-pop places, authentic ethnic eateries and four-star caliber finds.

Many new BYOBs are opening in Center City, but even more are thriving in off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods such as South Philadelphia, Northern Liberties and Bella Vista, encouraging both residents and visitors to explore the city’s diverse and bustling communities.

BYOB Map

To find some of Philly’s best BYOBs, check out our Interactive BYOB Restaurant Map, which allows you to browse and find BYOBs by neighborhood and cuisine.

We also have a printer-friendly (PDF) version of the BYOB Guide available for download. (Note: This guide was published in 2007, so be sure to call ahead before your meal.)

Featured Listings

  • Bibou

    A casual South Philly BYOB serving lovingly prepared, rustic French food

    Bibou

    The labor of love of husband-and-wife team Charlotte and Pierre Calmels (former executive chef at Le Bec-Fin), Bibou serves delicately prepared, rustic French bistro fare in a casual space in South Philadelphia.

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  • Lolita

    Delicious, contemporary Mexican cuisine with a “B-Y-O-Tequila” twist

    Three words: Don’t forget to bring your own tequila. The kitchen will take care of the rest.

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  • Mercato

    A former market comes back to life

    Mercato BYOB

    Located in what used to be a neighborhood corner market, Mercato — which means “market” in Italian — expands on its namesake theme by emphasizing fresh, local ingredients in its contemporary Italian menu.

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  • Paloma

    Superlative Mexican fare sans tortillas

    Haute Mexican—mushroom flan, huitlacoche mousse-stuffed duck, poblano-touched corn chowder—is the draw at this refined BYOB. Dinner here ends with no-kidding desserts such as mojito layer cake with a scoop of mango habanero sorbet.

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  • Nina’s Trattoria

    Serving family recipes from across Italy

    A long vacant Italian Market storefront gained new life as this under-the-radar, authentically Italian BYOB. Lunch, brunch and dinner menus feature farm-to-table fare, including homemade meatballs, grilled radicchio and asparagus patties.

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  • Monsu

    A delicious slice of Sicily in South Philly

    Another Italian Market BYOB, this corner spot prides itself on its Sicilian roots. Its brunch and dinner menus offer the mild (think airy eggplant parmigiana, ricotta-and-zucchini ravioli and osso buco) to the slightly wild (sweet-and-sour tripe).

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  • Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat

    Breakfast and lunch comfort fare comes to Graduate Hosptial

    Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat

    This Honey’s is the second Honey’s location. The original location opened in Northern Liberties in 2005, and has basically been overflowing for breakfast and lunch service at 4th and Brown ever since.

    The new location has pretty much the same menu as the original — look out for delicious favorites like Challah French Toast, Brisket Soft Tacos, Fried Green Tomatoes, Country Fried Steak, Patty Melts, Milkshakes and a lot more — but the new location is larger than the original, so we’re hoping the waits on weekends won’t be as long.

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  • Tandoor India

    BYOB and all-you-can-eat Indian cuisine

    This casual Indian restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet also has an à-la-carte menu that includes all the traditional favorites at very reasonable prices.

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  • Honest Tom’s Tacos

    Food truck turned laid-back taqueria

    “Honest” Tom McCusker parlayed a successful food truck into this low-key, living room-chill taqueria, which doles out the tortilla-wrapped goodness from morning (breakfast tacos!) to evening. Breakfast tacos overflowingwith bacon, potatoes, tomatoes and fresh guacamole draw crowds from all over the city. BYO Tecate, leaving the hot sauce to them.

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  • King of Tandoor

    Casual, comfortable Indian BYOB

    KoT doesn’t limit itself by region, serving a mix of straight-up South Asian options in a casual BYO setting.

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  • Doma

    Sophisticated sushi

    Korean tacos at Doma.

    Korean and Japanese cooking meets and mingles at Doma, a sophisticated neighborhood BYO sushi parlor.

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  • Tamarind

    Thai done right

    Long a neighborhood favorite, this Thai BYO has always done it right, judging by the long waits on weekend nights (get in early).

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  • Cafe Fulya

    Tremendous Turkish

    The warm owner who lends her name to this quaint Second Street shop does all her own cooking, meaning you’re never far from a fresh-brewed mug, a flaky pastry or an authentic Turkish breakfast plate.

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