Philadelphia's Best New Restaurants for Fall 2025

Stephen Starr — the unofficial king of Philly food with a whopping 20 local spots on his roster — is back, and the next jewel in his surely very-heavy crown comes in the form of Borromini, a 16,000-square-foot restaurant with two floors, 320 seats, a hand-painted fresco, a marble staircase and an outdoor patio bordering iconic Rittenhouse Square.

Named after a 17th-century Roman architect, the upscale restaurant sports an impressive menu of classic Italian fare shaped by a dream team of chefs pulled from across Starr’s orbit. Up for grabs: about a dozen pastas, including a 100-layer lasagna (!); a variety of other meat and seafood entrees; and seven different desserts, as well as a varied selection of Italian wines and cocktails.

Chestnut Hill’s mini Reading Terminal, the Market at the Fareway, has added a Jewish deli to its roster.

Named for the resort region in the Catskills mountains that served as a safe place for New York’s Jewish-American community from the 1920s through the 1960s, chef Nick Liberato’s delicatessen The Borscht Belt dishes out a menu of Jewish deli classics: corned beef, pastrami, brisket and more.

Since the very beginning, Philadelphia’s famous South 9th Street Italian Market has been a hub of energy, high-quality goods and vibrant cultures from around the world. Its newest addition, Nicaraguan coffee shop Café Duskaia, continues that legacy.

Rooted in Nicaraguan heritage and coffee culture, the cafe works directly with women farmers in the Central American country to procure the beans for its organic and sustainable colados, Latin Mochas, Express Coco Lattes and more. The vibrant Bella Vista cafe also features a menu of traditional Nicaraguan dishes, as well as bags of coffee beans for purchase.

Chef Lourdes Marquez Nau’s California-based vegan Puerto Rican eatery, Casa Borinqueña, jet sets across the country, setting up its second location in none other than Philadelphia.

The colorful all-day cafe in East Kensington serves up delicious Puerto Rican-style coffee, sweet treats and savory bites, including meatless pasteles, alcapurrias, mofongo cups and more.

Clink, clink! Upscale cocktails meet elegant vibes at the brand-new Céline in Midtown Village.

The chic cocktail bar features a curated menu of crowd-pleasers like Negronis and espresso martinis; seasonal twists like strawberry mezcal margaritas and pineapple-infused martinis; and beer, wine and champagne offerings. Plus, sip to the tune of live music and DJ sets on select nights.

Nestled under the iconic “Welcome to Fishtown” mural, El Chingón’s new alfresco outpost greets you with the homemade sourdough tortilla tacos and cemitas that made the original famous.

Chef Carlos Aparicio’s vibrant, new restaurant promises a more casual vibe while maintaining the Pueblo, Mexico-inspired flavors of the OG South Philly location. One major change: drinks! Unlike its BYOB predecessor, the Fishtown spot features a jardin de agave, a colorful seasonal margarita garden.

May we propose a toast? East Kensington’s newest watering hole, Cormorant Corner Bar, adds to the neighborhood’s collection of low-key spots for a good drink and a great time.

Named after the majestic aquatic fowl emblazoned on the front door, Cormorant pours handcrafted original cocktails, creative takes on classic drinks and a solid selection of brews in moody, laidback digs.

Located under the Market-Frankford El in East Kensington, Fleur’s adds a distinctively French flair to the neighborhood, with brasserie favorites like steak frites served alongside more innovative bites like the cabbage a l’orange, an East-meets-West matchup.

The French-ish flavors extend both to the restaurant’s raw and main bar, which sports a lineup of wines and cocktails steeped in French spirits and cooking techniques. (Prime example? The duck-fat Old Fashioned.)

Oh, and did we mention the place is huge? While dinner service has begun in the 130-seat main restaurant, the five-floor building will also eventually house a formal dining room on the second floor, a rooftop bar and a boutique hotel.

Talk about a twofer: Not only has Human Robot revived a beloved Brewerytown rowhome-turned-taproom, the local brewery has some fun (re: delicious) tricks up its sleeve.

For its latest outpost, Human Robot Girard takes over the former home of Crime and Punishment Brewing, pairing its experimental pilsners, fruited sours and lagers with a new food concept, Poe’s Side Piece. A spin-off of the sandwich shop housed inside Human Robot’s Kensington headquarters, the spot serves up a fun selection of cold sandwiches, salads and bar snacks — perfect for soaking up all those Milktube pours.

Fishtown’s Kinto is a celebration of Georgian cuisine and culture.

Located just down the street from its sibling spots, the BYOB is tamer than its more maximalist counterparts Fabrika and Margolis cocktail bar. Adorned with traditional Georgian decor, the intimate restaurant serves vegetarian- and vegan-friendly traditional fare, including khinkali (dumplings), khachapuri (cheese-filled flatbreads), and mtsvadi (grilled skewers), and a lineup of zero-proof cocktails.

This Rittenhouse Square brownstone has been transformed into a can’t-miss destination for authentic Japanese cuisine.

Pull up to the downstairs sushi counter for the full omakase experience: 90 minutes, 20 pieces of sushi largely sourced from Japan’s iconic markets, all for $150. Or head upstairs for Kissho House’s robatayaki experience, which features a la carte seafood, meat and veggie dishes prepared over a charcoal grill.

Known for the bold dining room, near-perfect burgers and great drink menu at its Fishtown location, Two Robbers went a little more rustic for its South Philly follow-up.

Wood-paneled to perfection with warm lighting and homey decor, The Lodge dishes out “simple comfort food” — cast-iron-cooked pancakes, avocado toast topped with house-cured salmon, steak frites and a burger just as incredible as the original’s — for weekend brunch and dinner. The drink menu runs about 20 options deep and features the brand’s signature vodka sodas alongside other creative cocktails.

This beloved University City hotspot returns (huzzah!) after a year-long hiatus with brand-spanking-new digs and an updated menu still rooted in owner Janice Wang’s passion for Taiwanese tea culture, cuisine and heritage.

Named for Wang’s adorable French bulldog Lulu (the cafe’s official mascot), the cafe features a lineup of savory Taiwanese street snacks (think: halal popcorn chicken and tea egg), pastries, bubble teas, artisanal drinks and more.

Well acquainted with the art of the dumpling, Philadelphia brims with quality dim sum spots from Chinatown to Northeast Philly. Leave it to Tom Lau of Asian cuisine hotspots Aki Nom Nom and Feng Hot Pot and chef Mana Shi to add something new into the mix.

The duo’s new NoLibs restaurant, Mana Modern Chinese, features plenty of tried-and-true staples, like General Tso’s chicken and six different varieties of xiao long bao, before giving way to Shi’s more innovative creations. Don’t miss the Mapo Tofummus, a mashup of the traditional Sichuan mapo tofu and tasty hummus, or the custard bloom, a dessert that completely reimagines the familiar carrot cake.

Taking inspiration from the streets of Southeast Asia and Asian American kitchens here at home, Mecha Noodle Bar brings its take on Asian fusion cuisine to Fishtown.

With its first foray into Philadelphia after shops in Connecticut and Washington D.C., among others, the walk-in-only noodle bar offers a tasty menu of Asian comfort food — pho, ramen and steamed bao buns, plus a handful of hand rolls and other takeout staples —  and an impressive drink lineup with bubble teas, fun cocktails, sakes and more.

Located right next to Suraya in Fishtown, the buzzy D.C.-based steak chain Medium Rare has finally arrived in Philly.

The $32.95 dinner gets you unlimited steak frites and salad — with a vegan option available — but the real draw is the beloved secret sauce. The steak sauce recipe is a closely guarded secret, but think: rich, cheesy, creamy and peppery with just the right amount of kick.

Cap off the meal with dessert options like hot fudge sundaes and six-layer carrot cakes, or stop by for brunch and have your steak frites with mimosas and French toast.

Philly’s Sushi by Bou locations might be closed, but that didn’t stop chefs Mitsutaka Harada and Haris Yohanes from striking out on their own with this brand-new omakase.

On the menu: Karaage chicken, gyoza, ramen, bento boxes and a variety of sushi cuts, including a few nods to Philly, like the Gang Green roll (eel, cucumber, avocado and truffle sauce) and The Linc (crunchy spicy tuna, scallop, yuzu pepper and tobiko).

In the mood for some Diet 7-Up? You will be after you see what’s behind that suspicious new vending machine in Northern Liberties.

Hailing from NYC, this moody new speakeasy-style joint offers elevated Asian fare, creative smoked cocktails, and nightly live performances — ranging from a jazz singer to an aerialist — all set in a Japanese-Latin lounge.

Strawberry Mansion’s acclaimed pizzeria on a mission, Down North, brings its purpose-driven philosophy and penchant for tasty eats to West Philly.

Diners catch up, co-work and hang out over cups of joe — brewed using Poem Roasting beans — Ube Lattes, Strawberry Basil Matchas and more in owner Muhammad Abdul-Hadi and executive chef Mike Carter’s bright double-decker cafe. Also on the menu: a lineup of creative breakfast sandos, classic cheesesteaks, vegan hoagies and more.

And just like Down North, Out West is committed to connecting previously incarcerated Philadelphians with life-changing employment opportunities.

For folks homesick for their native cuisine or interested in exploring Nicaraguan culture, Pinolero is a welcome addition to Philly’s restaurant collection.

A nod to chef and owner Lilliam Orozco’s roots (Pinolero is a nickname for people from the Central American nation), Pinolero is a stylish corner spot in Kensington serving authentic Nicaraguan cuisine. Settle in for cups of fresco de cacao (a chilled milk-based drink made from raw cacao beans and warming spices) and plates of empanadas de maduro, nacatamal (savory tamales stuffed with pork, rice and potatoes), buñuelos (bite-sized sweet treats made from yuka and cheese) and so much more.

The original — aka Mawn, the South Philly Cambodian BYOB that won chef Phila Lorn the 2025 James Beard Award for Emerging Chef — was so good that owners Phila and Rachel Lorn had to do a sequel. Enter: Sao, the couple’s brand-new Southeast Asia-meets-the Jersey Shore oyster bar on East Passyunk Avenue.

Like the OG restaurant, the spot is cozy with only 30 seats and serves oysters (of course), crudos and other comforting dishes inspired by a trip Phila took to Cambodia in 2008. Unlike its older sibling, Sao has a bar (!) and the drink program to match.

It’s no surprise, but Philly takes its cheesesteaks very seriously. That’s why it’s a big deal when a new contender blows into town.

Shay’s Steaks and More sets itself apart with savory steaks and a complimentary menu of cold-pressed juices, fresh salads, breakfast staples and late-night faves. Don’t miss out on the Shaygel — chopped ribeye blanketed with Cooper Sharp cheese, topped with an egg and served inside an everything bagel. Oh, baby.

This former auto repair garage gets new life as your glamorous new go-to for oysters, shrimp cocktails and more.

Helmed by Lauren Biederman, the owner of the Italian Market “appetizing store” Bierderman Specialty Foods, Tesiny is a chic oyster bar and charcoal grill restaurant located in South Philly.

The dining room is cozy and warm with a modern feel, and in addition to the aforementioned raw bar bites, Tesiny’s seasonal menu — masterminded by Zahav alum Michael Valent — features small plates like chicken lollipops; grilled entrees like Wagyu culotte steak; and a drink menu of wine, creative cocktails (like the vodka-based Melon Situation) and a few beers.

Alberto Sandoval got his fine-dining credentials working in some of Philly’s most acclaimed restaurants, like Lacroix and Volvér. Now, alongside his brother, the chef pays homage to his San Mateo Ozolco roots at the duo’s new Upper Darby BYOB, Tlali.

On the menu at the homey cocina mexicana, you’ll find seafood, tacos and Ozolco specialties. The best part? The Sandoval brothers let you in on their family traditions, drawing on their parents’ recipes, like their mother’s nixtamalized heirloom corn masa and their father’s chile marinade.

It’s a family affair at this new Mexican spot in Old City. Translating to “Your Little Corner,” the restaurant features authentic dishes made by husband-and-wife owners Eugene and Ernestina Guevara, and their daughter Lorena.

The menu features all the tasty eats you’d expect — tacos, elote, tostadas — paired with a robust menu of handcrafted drinks (think: house-made hibiscus iced tea, Mexican mocha lattes, and strawberries and cream matcha).

Turmeric Indian Kitchen rolls out the red carpet and black tablecloths for lovers of Indian culture, tradition and spice.

The Spring Garden restaurant specializes in authentic Indian cuisine made from locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Dishes like dal tadka (a creamy lentil curry), anjeer kofta (rich potato dumplings), dosas (popular South Indian flatbreads) and more all earn a place on the new spot’s impressive menu.

Philadelphia is home to some of the best restaurants, chefs and bar programs in the country — and many of those establishments have been recognized over the years by the James Beard Foundation. Iconic spots like Zahav and Vedge are multi-time honorees; High Street Hospitality and some of its critically acclaimed holdings have been recognized; and more recently honored restaurants like My Loup, Cantina La Martina and Royal Sushi & Izakaya show off the amazing flavor and incredible value that Philly’s new class of restaurants are brining to the city. For more, check out our guide highlighting the restaurants and chefs that have been honored in the foundation’s annual long list of semifinalists, nominees and winners.

Philly’s restaurants, hotels and attractions get a lot of attention from national and international media. We’re talking Travel + Leisure, Esquire, Condé Nast, Bon Appétit and more. See which eateries made headlines in our roundup of awards and accolades for Philly spots in 2024.

Why go home after dinner? Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking — a perfect pairing if you ask us.

Now that you’ve got your dining plans settled, pair a stellar meal with one of the region’s best museums and attractions or a street festival or big event. For more things to do in Philly (and there are always more things to do), click here.