AAPI-Owned Restaurants to Check Out in Philadelphia

The hardest part of dining at Amma’s South Indian Restaurant might just be choosing from the incredibly long list of options — from dosas and idlis, to curries and biryanis — all prepared with traditional cooking methods and fresh flavors.

Be sure to save room for dessert, with numerous options to choose from, like the Choco Mallow Fantasy with layers of molten chocolate and marshmallow toasted to perfection.

Amma’s has two locations: one in Rittenhouse Square and the other in University City, with both sites offering sit-down and take-out service.

Husband-and-wife team Tam Dang and Raquel Villanueva Dang’s Baby’s Kusina + Market honors Raquel’s Filipino culture, with a nod to her mom, nicknamed Tita Baby, offering modern Filipino fare.

The Brewerytown spot offers counter service for breakfast (brekky), lunch and weekend brunch on a first-come, first-served basis, while reservations are recommended for sit-down dining with table service.

The restaurant rotates menus throughout the day, starting off with sandos for brekky, options for a meaty or veggie-based lunch, and dinner offerings including small plates and mains like the braised short-rib kare-kare.

Let the surfboard-adorned sign out front of Banana Leaf beckon you into this Chinatown restaurant that serves up spicy curries, warm and cold noodles, Malaysian-style spare ribs and so much more.

The extensive menu has plenty of vegetarian options, as well as a house-special sauce that offers a delightful burn. Crowd-pleasers include Mama Chicken (deep-fried chopped chicken served in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce) and roti canai (an Indian flatbread).

Open daily, Banana Leaf is BYOB.

Bao Nine draws inspiration from Taipei street-style Gua Bao infused with diverse Philly flavors to create tender bao buns that make you feel like you’re on cloud nine.

That flavor fusion creates interesting dishes, from the hilariously named Hot Motha Clucka (crispy chicken, house buffalo sauce, blue cheese and pickled celery) to The Garbaonzo (falafel, tahini labneh, pickled chili and onion).

Tucked right next to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Reading Terminal Market, Bar-Ly Chinatown offers a whopping 60 beers on tap — making it a go-to sports bar on game days.

In addition to an extensive bar food menu — with American, Asian, Tex-Mex and pub food favorites like wings and Philly cheesesteaks — the menu also includes a variety of Vietnamese foods like banh mi, pho and rice platters.

Happy hour specials run daily from 3 to 6 p.m. (except for game days and special events).

Hailing from Busan, South Korea, Bonchon’s founder Jinduk Seo dreamed of sharing his Korean comfort food with the world. Dreams do come true, with Bonchon opening four locations across Greater Philadelphia and the Countryside in addition to international locations in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam.

Korean fried chicken takes center stage here, double-fried and hand-brushed with Seo’s signature sauces that include soy garlic, spicy, Korean BBQ and classic crunch. The menu also includes Korean favorites like bimbimbap, bulgogi, japchae and kimchi, plus a variety of fries and pickled delights.

Chris and Alicia Chung, Buk Chon’s husband-and-wife team, lived and cooked all over the world before settling in Philadelphia. When they decided to open a Korean comfort food restaurant, they knew they wanted to set up shop in Philly’s most historic neighborhood: Old City.

They named their place Buk Chon after Seoul, South Korea’s oldest town of the same name. Diners can choose from an array of tasty and traditional dishes, like bimbimbap, rib-eye bulgogi, stews and japchae.

Hiding in plain sight in South Philly, Café Nhan specializes in home-cooked Vietnamese fare at their self-described “hole in the wall” along Passyunk Avenue. Owner Nhan Vo runs the restaurant with her son, Andrew Dinh Vo, crafting dishes so good that many of the city’s food industry pros dine there when off the clock.

Café Nhan’s most popular plate? Their bún bò huế, a phở-like dish with a lemongrass and beef broth, fermented shrimp paste, fish sauce, thick noodles, pig’s blood, pig’s feet, and brisket. (Those with dietary restrictions can ask to leave the pork out.)

Chinatown’s Dae Bak specializes in Korean fare with an incredibly large list of options that include beef, chicken and seafood as well as vegan and vegetarian options. Appetizer selections range from comfort-food favorites like dumplings and fish cakes to japchae and seafood pajeon.

The steaming dolsot bimbimbap comes in stone bowls with options that include tofu, pork, bulgogi and more. Other menu options include a variety of of hot pots, noodle and rice dishes, and stews, plus specialty items like dal bak (spicy chicken feet) and oden tang (fish cake stew).

There’s nothing pretentious about this little spot in Fishtown, located just under SEPTA’s El. Owner/chef Joseph Kim and his wife Ellie run the show at the 16-seat sushi and ramen restaurant — and they keep the vibe casual.

Bao buns, tuna guac and miso soup lead to carefully crafted sushi, sashimi and maki alongside a handful of ramen bowls and dishes from the kitchen.

The reservation-only omakase is the real standout, available on Friday and Saturday evenings with 22 courses at $180.

Indonesian street food — like meatball soup and egg noodle bowls — is the highlight at South Philadelphia’s D’Jakarta Cafe, owned by husband and wife Beddy Sonie and Alfitri Ho.

D’Jakarta offers a la carte options, platters and a stunning array of desserts (like ropang, rujak and fried bananas).

And don’t miss Sonie’s smaller takeout spot Martabak OK, which specializes in wildly popular pancakes — common in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Israel, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei — that come stuffed with sweet or savory fillings like cream cheese and Oreos, peanut butter or ground beef.

Natural wines are having a moment — and Vanessa Wong is here for it. Her cozy Fishtown wine bar and bottle shop specializes in organic, sustainable, biodynamic and natural wines.

Stop in to buy wines from small producers or stay to sip them at the bar — or, if it’s warm, a delightful outdoor table on bustling Frankford Avenue — where you can also enjoy beer, cocktails and small plates.

James Beard Award semifinalist chef Thanh Nguyen serves the dishes at her restaurant, Gabriella’s Vietnam, exactly as they’re presented in the streets in Vietnam.

The menu centers on street food, hot pot soup and chef’s specials like the shaken beef (wok-charred marinated filet mignon cubes) and sizzling turmeric catfish with vermicelli noodles.

Don’t miss the crispy savory crepes or the water fern dumplings (rice cakes topped with minced shrimp, pork crackling, mung beans, fried shallots and scallions). Bonus: The restaurant is BYOB.

If you’re looking for a spot to get sushi every day of the week, Ginza Sushi and Ramen in Pennsport has your back.

Here you’ll find some tried-and-true favorites, like gyoza, sashimi and sushi, with signature rolls like the Green Peace (sweet potato, cucumber, asparagus and mango, topped with sliced avocado, honey wasabi and yuzu cream sauce) and the Prism Dream (spicy crab mango, torched tuna, salmon and tobiko topped with yuzu miso and honey wasabi sauce).

Not feeling sushi? No worries: Ginza serves a number of teriyaki dinner platters and five different varieties of ramen.

The name of the game at Grandma’s Philly is shared small plates. Translation: Order a bunch of dishes and try ’em all for a family-style Thai banquet.

Donrutai “Chef Locket” Jainon uses her grandmother’s recipes for this authentic Thai menu, which features New York strip steak with a special house sauce, meatballs (also in a special house sauce), crispy pork belly and green curry.

Fresh ingredients are on display both in the dishes and in the fruit-forward cocktails. Save some room for mango sticky rice for dessert.

Think of South Philly’s Griddle & Rice like a mash-up of your favorite American brunch dishes (like Nutella banana pancakes) fused with Indonesian flair (like roti bakar choco cheese toast).

The restaurant’s motto — when coffee meets comfort food — comes alive in the menu offerings with options like breakfast sammies, pancakes and French toast alongside a long list of Indonesian dishes like sate cilok (skewered beef meatballs slathered in a peanut sauce). Soups, fritters, and sides like coconut rice or home fries round out the fusion menu.

Tony and Suki Liu have brought fine Japanese dining to southern Chester County. After migrating to New York from Fujian, China — where they met — the couple settled in Kennett Square and opened Lily Asian Cuisine Sushi & Grill, serving up Chinese classics from the wok and hibachi, alongside fresh sushi and now poke bowls.

In the fall of 2021, they opened GuGu Asian Table, a sophisticated dining room offering a variety of cooked and raw specialties, including bluefin toro, featured on their tuna tasting menu.

Unassuming Indonesian restaurant Hardena in South Philly earned Ena, Maylia and Diana Widjojo a James Beard Award semifinalist nod and national attention in 2018.

The family-run spot, now led by Ena’s daughters, Maylia and Diana, has been a local favorite for folks looking to sample the flavors of Sumatra, Java and Bali since it opened in 2001.

Try the tempe, a soybean-based dish in a cake-like structure that many people don’t realize is an Indonesian staple.

The Hardena family has expanded with Rice & Sambal, an Indonesian supper club, spearheaded by Diana and her partner, Jen. Rice & Sambal offers a prix fixe menu that changes every three weeks.

2023 James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Ellen Yin opened Fork in Old City in 1997 — and it’s still going strong today.

Her High Street Hospitality group also includes: Washington Square West’s High Street, recently named a recommended restaurant in the new Michelin Guide Northeast Cities edition; a.kitchen + a.bar at AKA Rittenhouse hotel (which was recognized by Wine Enthusiast as one of “The 50 Wine Restaurants We Love”); and The Bread Room, a bakery and workshop space (!) where you can learn from the pros.

Don’t miss: Fork’s wine program, High Street’s handmade sourdough pizzas and the roasted chicken at a.kitchen.

On a quiet Fishtown side street sits Hiroki, named after executive chef Hiroki Fujiyama. Originally hailing from Kyoto, Japan, Fujiyama trained at Morimoto for a decade and has received numerous accolades, including being named a recommended restaurant in the new Michelin Guide Northeast Cities edition.

Guests here can expect a traditional omakase menu (which changes seasonally) for $285 per person. The new omakase experience offers a 20-plus-course meal with “temperatures and flavorful combinations of sea and land,” including the chef’s delicious nigiri course. Go all out and opt for the sake pairing.

Chef Mohan Parmar has been serving up Indian delicacies for decades. His South Street restaurant, Indian Kitchen Lovash, specializes in halal foods and has a dazzling array of vegan and vegetarian delights on the menu.

The dining room opens for lunch and dinner daily (with the exception of Tuesdays) and offers dine-in and take-out options. In addition to the traditional offerings like soups, salads, samosas and clay oven dishes, there’s also a gluten-free menu and a kids’ menu.

Pro tip: Don’t miss the specialty menu. It’s got at least five different varieties of surf-and-turf curries.

Head out to University City for halal kabobs and curries at Kabobeesh. Not only are the kabobs (available in lamb, chicken, beef, fish and paneer) grilled over charcoal (giving it a smoky flavor), but they’re also made to order.

The curries — like chicken tikka masala and lamb curry — pair nicely with freshly made tandoori naan. Specialities — like tandoori chicken pizza, burgers and pizzas — are also on offer. Plus, there are plenty of plant-based options, too.

If you’re an early bird, swing by for breakfast: deep-fried bread, chickpeas, spiced potatoes, a salad and more.

What started out as chef-owner Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon’s search for a catering kitchen quickly morphed into a showcase of the authentic southern Thai recipes Suntaranon learned from her mother, for whom the restaurant is named.

Since then, the restaurant has become a critically acclaimed sensation:

• Kalaya was a finalist for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2025 and 2026
• Kayala was added as a recommended restaurant in the new Michelin Guide Northeast Cities edition
• Suntaranon was a 2022 finalist for the James Beard Award for Mid-Atlantic Chef
• Esquire named Kalaya the 2020 Restaurant of the Year, and
• The restaurant was also named the seventh-best restaurant in all of North America

In a little building in Olney (look for the red facade), you’ll find Kim’s Restaurant, a hidden gem.

You can’t get much better than Korean barbecue cooked hot and fresh on a charcoal grill at your table. Choose from beef tongue, pork belly, lamb chops and other barbecue meats, plus an assortment of fresh banchan, like kimchi, fish cakes and cucumber.

Aside from barbecue dishes, the menu features fried dumplings, stews and noodles. Visitors tout the high-quality meats and stellar service, as does this shout-out in Food & Wine. 

Born in China and raised in Taiwan, Margaret Kuo is a culinary legend in the Philadelphia area. After coming to the U.S. on a scholarship, she married, relocated to the Philadelphia area and pivoted from chemistry to the restaurant business.

She’s been a fixture of the dining scene since the 1970s, introducing a whole generation of suburbanites to traditional Northern Chinese cuisine.

She has owned various restaurants over the decades and currently runs Margaret Kuo’s Kitchen at Granite Run in Media, which raises the bar for mall dining with dim sum and dumplings, alongside crowdpleasers like General Tso’s chicken and Moo Shoo pork.

Mari Mari’s founder, Youngnam Kwon, opened the first Mari Mari as a stand in North Philadelphia’s H-Mart in 2020, and after seeing much success there, the chef decided to open up a sit-down restaurant in Center City.

Mari means “roll” in Korean, but Kwon’s rolls come with an interesting twist: while most sushi rolls come with raw ingredients, nearly all of the ingredients inside of Mari Mari’s rolls come cooked.

The Japanese-Korean-American fusion at Mari Mari means lots of options (including a Philly Cheese Avocado roll!) and a variety of sauces for dipping.

Mawn, which translates to “chicken” in the Cambodian language of Khmer, is a self-proclaimed “noodle house with no rules.” Helmed by Cambodian American chef Phila Lorn and his wife Rachel, the menu showcases Cambodian and Southeast Asian dishes. Phila recently won a James Beard award, naming him the top emerging chef in 2025.

Settle into the cozy BYOB for some saht koh (ginger, galangal and lemongrass marinated beef ribeye), khao soi (a Northern Thai curry with braised chicken, chili jam, red onion, pickled greens and ramen), and a crunchy funnel cake to finish. Mawn is open for lunch and dinner. Note: Reservations can be tough to get.

Sao, Mawn’s new seafood restaurant, opened in 2025 and offers a changing menu with dessert and after dinner sips like Hibiki Harmony (Japanese whiskey).

Founded by lifelong friends Tony Pham and Rich Reyes, Mecha Noodle Bar offers a diverse fusion menu, featuring the cuisines of Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

The popular restaurant and bar has locations up and down the East Coast, with Philly’s spot located in Fishtown.

Enjoy happy hour bites and sips of sake or have a proper sit-down meal, enjoying a bowl of pho or ramen, noshing on some sushi or nibbling on a variety of bao buns. The family-friendly spot also has a kids’ menu and several desserts.

Miss Saigon Philly’s doors open daily for lunch and dinner, often transforming into a nightlife hotspot after dinner with guest DJs and “cocktails that mirror the hues of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, celebrating diversity and unity in every sip.”

The Midtown Village/Gayborhood restaurant specializes in Vietnamese street food that includes phở, small bites like spring rolls, skewers and bánh mì, in addition to a large variety of seafood options like clams, oysters, whole fish and so much more.

Happy hour comes around twice a day: from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to midnight.

Located inside the Hong Kong Supermarket in the Rising Sun Plaza Shopping Center in Lawncrest, Nam Vang Restaurant serves stellar authentic Khmer and Vietnamese soups.

This well-kept secret has no shortage of noodle and meat-centric dishes. Here’s just a sampling of the menu: rice noodle soups with assorted meats and seafood; chicken, seafood, duck, beef and pork on vermicelli; pan-fried noodles; fried rice; broken rice with any assortment of meats or seafood; and milkshakes and smoothies.

New Delhi Indian Restaurant has been a part of the University City community for nearly 40 years, claiming the title of the longest-running Indian restaurant in Philly. Chef Hardev Singh founded the restaurant in 1988, passing it down to his sons Rick, Kyle and executive chef Josh.

In addition to its a la carte menu, diners at New Delhi can also feast at the much beloved buffet, open for both lunch and dinner. The extensive menu also has ample vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Note that the spot is closed on Mondays.

Nom Wah opened first as a tea parlor and bakery in New York, with wildly popular moon cakes. When founder Wally Tang retired, his nephew Wilson Tang took the reins and decided to bring Nom Wah to Philadelphia.

The fast-casual restaurant specializes in dim sum with a robust variety of offerings on the menu, including gluten-free and vegetarian options. Try some chrysanthemum tea with your dim sum for the full experience.

In a busy Washington Avenue strip mall packed with other delicious restaurants (see: Sky Cafe below), Pho 75 is the tried-and-true spot for incredible pho. There may be a wait, but there’s plenty of seating, and the staff gets you in and out quickly — and with a full belly.

Choose from cuts of beef (brisket, flank and eye-round steak, for instance) and savor the perfectly salty broth and tender noodles. Keep in mind, this spot is cash only. (We know: The parking lot is a little crazy, but good things are waiting on the other end.)

The gray-blue building at 5th and Snyder? That’s Phở Duyên. The menu is tight (all killer, no filler) and consists of noodle soups, house-fried chicken and rice dishes.

Noteworthy items include the special beef pho with tri-tip steak, meatball, tendon and tripe; and Vietnamese crab noodle soup, filled with rice vermicelli and an assortment of meats.

More seafood options include nam vang noodles with shrimp, quail eggs, liver and other meats. Visitors rave about the fresh and flavorful broth in the soups.

Heaps of beef rendang and curries await you at Ramayana Restaurant. The low-key, South Philadelphia space with yellow-green walls has a cafeteria-style ordering system where guests just pick out their meal from a buffet line. Easy peasy.

Aside from the aromatic beef and chicken dishes with rice, Ramayana offers vegan and vegetarian dishes, like slow-cooked jackfruit and sauteed tofu, tempeh and sator.

The exterior of Royal Sushi & Izakaya may be unassuming, but the food is in another league.

Jesse Ito’s delicious Japanese menu made him a James Beard Award Rising Star Chef of the Year semifinalist for four years in a row (2017-2020); a finalist for the Mid-Atlantic chef award in 2022, 2024 and 2025; a recognition as one of the top 50 restaurants in North America; and a winner of Michelin’s Bib Gourmand status.

Guests at the Queen Village restaurant can opt for the reservations-only, 16-course omakase menu at Royal Sushi with two seatings each Tuesday through Saturday. Can’t snag a res? The more casual first-come, first-served a la carte experience at Royal Izakaya has a dizzying array of options.

One of Center City’s top Korean restaurants got its start in North Philadelphia. While Seorabol’s original location in Olney is now closed, owner Chris Cho still operates the Center City restaurant, serving Korean barbecue, bibimbap, and soups and stews daily.

Whether you’re in the mood for a sizzling spicy seafood tofu soup or want to sink your teeth into chicken GUI (don’t forget the banchan), there are plenty of hearty options to choose from.

Authentic dishes from Sumatra, Indonesia, have been on the menu since Mutia Aji opened Seulanga Cafe in 2014.

This centrally located South Philly restaurant is a short walk from the bustling Snyder Avenue and Passyunk Avenue corridors, and though it’s easy to miss due to the unassuming facade, the food is unforgettable.

If you can limit yourself to just one dish, make it nasi padang, steamed rice that comes with multiple dishes you can choose at your discretion, like beef rendang, spicy chicken, fish and more.

Can’t make it into Chinatown? South Philly has plenty of great options for Chinese fare. Case in point: Beef chow fun, wonton noodle soup and deep-fried chicken are all on the menu at Shing Kee.

The expansive menu is heavy on soups, seafood and chef’s specials, which include filet steak with black pepper broccoli, roasted duck, Thai-style fish filet and many more. Also expect classics like fried rice, shrimp and broccoli, and scallion pancakes.

New to the Philly restaurant scene comes the Silk Way Family Restaurant, with a pan-Asian menu celebrating the cuisine of Central Asia.

Kazakh founder Olzhas Karymsakov brings his restaurant family’s dishes to his Queen Village eatery that celebrates foods from across Eurasia’s famed Silk Road.

In addition to entrees from Kazakhstan (like beshparmak), you’ll find Uzbek, Uyghur, Hungarian, Armenian and Georgian influences, all based on Karymsakov’s father’s recipes.

The Silk Way Family Restaurant is BYOB but also has a variety of delicious teas to sip on while you feast.

Gado gado (salad), pempek (fishcake), coconut rice-based dishes and other Indonesian plates occupy the extensive menu at Sky Cafe, which has called South Philly home since day one (though owner Betty Yu relocated to the current spot — in a Washington Avenue strip mall packed with other incredible restaurants — after a fire in 2015).

This modest and beloved neighborhood restaurant serves everything from mouth-watering marinated ribs to the Nasi Padang platter, which gives you the most bang for your buck with a taste of meats, veggies and more.

Sophie’s Kitchen is a family affair through and through. Husband and wife Danny Duk and Sophia Neth run the show with their four sons, serving all things Cambodian for both breakfast and dinner.

Family-style dishes like lemongrass beef stew and coconut-curried mussels delight customers and food critics alike. Bring a crew and split the country sour soup with prawns, the mussels, the chicken skewers and the red snapper.

Bonus: The restaurant is BYOB.

Just a block away from the famous Chinatown Friendship Gate is Spice C, a tasty spot for hand-drawn and hand-shaved noodles that are prepared fresh to order.

The slow-cooked soups include two different types of broth — the original beef broth and the thicker, spicier Szechuan-style broth — both simmering for hours before arriving at your table, topped with more than 20 ingredient choices.

Elsewhere on the menu, find dim sum, fried rice, hot pot and pad thai. You can’t go wrong with the house special noodle soup, which includes beef, brisket and tendon.

One of the most popular ramen spots in Chinatown, Terakawa Ramen — where the broth is simmered for two days and the noodles are made in-house — specializes in recipes from the Kumamoto region of Japan.

This go-to hotspot offers two types of noodles — a thick, wavy egg noodle and a thin, straight light-colored noodle — available in nine different types of ramen.

Their signature Terakawa Ramen features Natural Heritage Berkshire pork bone soup topped with roast pork (charshu), bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms, red ginger, chopped scallions and a marinated boiled egg. Terakawa also offers veggie miso and shoyu (soy sauce) ramen.

After a day of museum-hopping, make your way to Thanal Indian Tavern, just a few blocks off of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The restaurant has interesting twists on Indian favorites like naan (but filled with coriander-spiced crab meat) and tandoori chicken wings. Other can’t-miss dishes include goat biryani, gobi manchurian (cauliflower in a spicy and tangy sauce), and okra curry.

They’ve also got tons of vegetarian and vegan options for plant-based diners, sweet lassi drinks and desserts. Oh, and did we mention they have a lunch buffet?

Few have mastered the art of Chinese small plates (think succulent soup dumplings and fluffy buns) quite like Tom’s Dim Sum.

The Chinatown location is located beneath an underpass by the Pennsylvania Convention Center, but the bright restaurant sign is a beacon.

Not in the dumpling mood? Find soups, meat- and rice-based dishes, seafood, noodles, veggies, and desserts on the expansive menu.

Tom’s now has five locations across Philadelphia (Chinatown, Northeast Philly) and the nearby countryside (Flourtown, Media, Horsham), with another coming soon to Bryn Mawr.

The menu at chef Kenneth Sze’s Old City raw bar is fresh, locally sourced and family-influenced. The bright dining room opens out right onto bustling Race Street with huge windows that open in warmer months.

Alongside the fresh hand-selected fish, guests enjoy specialty cocktails, sake and a long wine list with sushi, raw oysters, scallops and shareable entrees.

Feel extra Philly while ordering specialty maki named after local celebs and landmarks, like the Jalen Hurts (shrimp tempura, spicy kani, avocado, soy paper, tobiko) and the Liberty (spicy crab, crunch, cucumber, topped with torched salmon, spicy aioli, rice pearls, nori powder)

Center City’s Veda offers what it calls traditional Indian “with a modern twist.” Open daily for lunch and dinner, Veda has a lengthy menu that includes a la carte options and buffets. Weekends include an expanded brunch buffet, with bottomless mimosas for an extra fee.

Veda’s got halal meats, curries, soups, salads and breads, with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Be sure to save room for the long list of desserts that include options like kulfi with poached blueberries. Happy hour specials run daily from 5 to 7 p.m.

James Beard’s America’s Classics Award honors locally owned restaurants beloved not just for their cuisine but also for timeless appeal, connection to the community and culinary heritage. Vietnam Restaurant remains one of only two restaurants in Philly to have ever received this special recognition, awarded in 2024.

With a primary location in Chinatown (opened in 1984) and a cafe in University City, chef Benny Lai’s now-legendary spot was spotlighted for dishes like barbecue platters, crispy spring rolls, 10 varieties of vermicelli bowls, lemongrass stir-fries and a selection of Polynesian cocktails.

Wahrung Filadelphia opened in 2012 and has been going strong ever since. The Indonesian restaurant in the heart of South Philadelphia offers a cozy atmosphere with traditional dishes and authentic flavors.

Customers rave about the fragrant spices and rich flavors of dishes like sayur asem (Indonesian vegetable tamarind soup) and nasi bebek goreng (marinated fried duck).

Top off your meal with es campur, a traditional Indonesian treat made up of a sweet mixture of coconut, jackfruit, avocado and grass jelly, served in shaved ice and topped with syrup and condensed milk.

Tibetan food is described by some as an intersection of Chinese and Indian cuisine, and Treley and Tsering Parshingtsang’s quaint (and very popular) BYOB in Roxborough fills that void in Philadelphia’s rich Asian foodscape.

Enjoy hearty meat dishes, flavorful noodles, momos (a special kind of dumpling) and the salted taste of butter tea in a yellow and wood-paneled dining room that feels like a cozy hut you might find in the Himalayas.

Restaurant power couple Win and Sutida Somboonsong have served Asian and Asian-fusion dishes in the Philadelphia suburbs since the early ’90s, starting with fresh sushi, noodle dishes and curries at Mikado Thai Pepper in Ardmore.

Since then, WIN Signature Restaurants has opened sushi restaurant Azie Media in Villanova, Teikoku in Newtown Square, and the elegant The Blue Elephant in Wayne and Pottstown, which was named the 2021 Best Asian Fusion Restaurant by Main Line Today. The couple recently retired and turned everything over to their children, Pearl Sonboonsong Murphy and Paul Sonboonsong.

Two more restaurants opened in 2025: Mama San Sushi in Radnor and Maison Lotus in Wayne. Mama-San offers sushi, bento boxes, bowls, poke and more, while Maison Lotus offers Asian fusion in the cafe/restaurant/bakery with Wayne’s first underground speakeasy, the Jade Rabbit Speakeasy, below the restaurant.

Looking for more? The center of Asian dining in Philadelphia is Chinatown, where you’ll find Cantonese, Fujianese, Sichuan, Taiwanese, Korean, Thai and Malaysian cultures and food.

The neighborhood cropped up in the mid-19th century, and family cooks and acclaimed chefs have been feeding the city from these blocks ever since. Check out our guide to Chinatown restaurants for dining and more ways to support Asian business owners in Philadelphia.

David Backhus’ culinary portfolio in Chester County runs the gamut.

What started with an espresso bar at Morgantown Coffee House has grown to include Collective Coffee and Bakery and two restaurants: Bloom Southern Kitchen (opened in 2021 with chef Tim Cone) and The Stables Kitchen & Beer Garden, a beer garden with indoor and outdoor space (opened in May 2023).

Hungry for a hearty breakfast with Vietnamese flair? Look no further than Huyen Thai Dinh’s cozy cafe at 15th and South streets, where you can find eggs and other American breakfast and lunch staples, Vietnamese standards, and creative combinations of both, like a cheesesteak bánh mì or crispy eggs with Vietnamese pulled pork.

Look for healthy salads and cafe beverages, including Vietnamese coffee and temptations like jasmine iced coffee and matcha Palmer. Translation: This is your new daytime crush.

CEO and co-founder Thu Pham’s Kensington-based Càphê Roasters is the first (and only) Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster in the city, with coffee sourced from Vietnam and other Southeast and East Asian regions.

Start with Cà Phê Sữa, a traditional Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk (available both hot and iced) and a fried chicken bánh mì.

On your next visit (because you’ll want to visit multiple times), go for the sweet-and-savory tamarind fries and the Cà phê ô liu, a take on olive oil coffee.

Càphê Roasters was a James Beard finalist in 2025 in the Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages category.

Café Walnut near Washington Square Park has one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city, so says The Philadelphia Inquirer about the cafe’s egg and cheese sandwich with pork bulgogi and a smidge of Sriracha mayonnaise.

Sibling owners Ashley, Christopher and Daniel Lee focus their light menu on Korean comfort food and small bites, perfect for grabbing on the go while picking up a cuppa Joe or some matcha.

If you go, ask if any onigiri remain. The off-menu item formally known as samgak kimbap sells out frequently.

Chinatown coffee shop — Drip Vietnamese Café — specializes in Vietnamese coffee, but also offers nibbles like decadent cookies, bahn mi and other desserts.

Recently voted one of the top coffee shops in the city, the cafe offers an array of hot and cold coffee and tea concoctions — like the pandan Vietnamese latte or the strawberry matcha — to keep its customers buzzing. Stay and sip inside the cozy shop with ample seating, or grab and go.

Daniel Anggrianto has made a business out of brunch. The pancakes, omelets, skillets, wraps and bowls at Eggcellent and Café Square One can fuel you all day. Café Square One now has three locations: one in Old City, one in Center City and one in University City.

Be sure to save room for their smoothies, coffees, cappuccinos and other specialty drinks, available at all locations. Might we recommend the Nutella latte?

Expect to be pampered at Chinatown’s Prince Tea House, which specializes in the afternoon tea experience. The New York-based chain with locations across the country offers an afternoon tea that comes with a tiered platter of assorted pastries and finger sandwiches, paired with your favorite tea.

Featuring French pastries hand-made daily, this tea house opens each day at noon, with dinner hours through the evening. In addition to sweet treats (like a la carte waffles!) Prince Tea House also offers small bites like salads, sandwiches and appetizers like fish and chips.

Start your morning at Chinatown’s Ray’s Cafe & Tea House for siphon coffee: coffee brewed in laboratory-like equipment that produces a smooth and vibrant cup. The most top-shelf blend runs you more than your average cup of Joe, but it’s well worth it.

Trade your morning coffee for a lunch date with crowd-favorite dishes like Taiwanese beef noodle soup, an assortment of handmade dumplings and cold sesame noodles. Note that seating is limited, so grab your treat en route to one of Market East’s many attractions.

South Philly’s Trung Nguyên Legend wants your coffee drinking experience to be a spiritual one, fueled by artistically adorned cappuccinos and other caffeinated delights. The coffee shop’s tranquil rooftop setting makes your morning, afternoon or early evening brew that much better.

Menu items include sips like Ottoman iced milk coffee and Motherland coffee (with ginger); teas like pandan lotus seeds tea or green tea latte with jelly; and macrobiotic drinks such as royal pomegranate juice.

Picture this: Homemade baguettes, baked to perfection; a selection of nearly two-dozen sandwiches; smoothies in flavors like matcha, taro, lychee and mango; and plenty of deli meats so you can make it all at home. That’s what Ba Le Bakery, a cozy sandwich shop off Washington Avenue, has to offer.

The bánh mì are the stars here, with pork pate and mayonnaise spread on the baguettes, and filled with pickled veggies and a selection of proteins (ranging from tofu and prawn patties to meatballs and crispy pork belly).

Dodo Bakery’s name translates to “Sweet Time Bakery” in Chinese. Owners Jack and Cherry Wong met many years ago in Shatin, Hong Kong, with their South Philly bakery specializing in Hong Kong-style desserts and pastries, as well as custom cakes for weddings and special occasions.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory treats, like mung bean or red bean cakes, steamed buns and Cantonese-style zhongzi (dumplings), and rice bowls after 11 a.m.

Carol Ha’s doughnut business was a side project for seven years before going full-time in 2019, much to the delight of customers around the city.

Okie Dokie’s “kitchen shop” walk-up window in South Philly serves up gluten-free and vegan options, with seasonal varieties like birthday cake, key lime pie and strawberry rhubarb for spring, and favorite flavors like apple cider and pumpkin for fall.

Plus, Ha’s wholesale operation means her doughnuts are available at select cafes and pop-up events throughout Philly (or flash-frozen and shipped!). Warning: This spot may tempt you to make regular donut runs.

Suerim Lee had a dream of one day opening a bakery, starting out by catering small events and taking custom orders. Now, her Seaforest Bakeshop has become a dream realized, with Suerim channeling her Korean culture into both sweet and savory bakery bites. (Suerim’s name means “seaforest” in Korean.)

On the menu at the Graduate Hospital spot: Korean-style cookies, cakes, buns (like gochujang-scallion), rolls (like doenjang-caramel), apple cider doughnuts and so much more. Seaforest serves Càphê Roasters’ drip coffee (see above) alongside other sweet sips like matcha.

In a western region of Japan, “maido” is used as a greeting for regulars — and this Japanese grocer and restaurant has plenty of them.

Founded in Narberth in 2003 by Seiko Dailey, Maido! is one of the only Japanese-owned grocery stores in Greater Philadelphia, offering fresh produce, a wide variety of Japanese packaged goods and even Japanese toys.

Dailey’s current expanded store and restaurant in Ardmore also offers guests an immersive Japanese experience: Sit at the lunch counter and enjoy okonomiyaki (pancakes), yaki-soba noodles and other specialties while watching a live sumo tournament on satellite TV.

We know: A market isn’t a restaurant. But the eats at this weekend seasonal market — which Food + Wine named as “one of the best food markets in the United States” — are just as good as at any Philly-area spot.

For decades, crowds would gather in FDR Park for an informal pop-up market that has now been established as a permanent fixture, thanks to a grant.

Bring an empty stomach and pick from dozens of food tents serving up Cambodian and Southeast Asian street food, fresh produce, flavorful spice blends and delicious beverages. Aside from food, clothes, jewelry and home goods are also for sale.