Like most any other office in Philadelphia, the Philly PR Girl team is made up of a bunch of self-proclaimed “phoodies.” There’s nothing we love more than dinner and drinks after work – except for maybe brunch… and long lunches with clients… and quick trips around town for a little something sweet! Not only do we love dining out, but we also enjoy talking about our favorite foods and making recommendations of our favorite spots.
With that in mind, we opened this question up to the whole team: What is your favorite dish in all of Philadelphia? Here are our responses!
Stacey: First, let me start by saying this is an extremely difficult question to ask a foodie like myself. I get way too excited over trying new foods. The latest, tastiest food I have eaten in Philly was a chocolate salted caramel cupcake from Milk + Sugar.
For the first 10 seconds, I wondered if I should eat it, because the cupcake was decorated so nicely. By the next 3 minutes, it was gone with only icing on my fingers as evidence. The cupcake itself was very moist and fluffy with drizzled caramel on top. The mountain of icing was sweet and served as dipping sauce once it toppled over onto the plate. Since devouring it a few weeks ago, I’ve followed their Instagram, hoping to catch their truck around town again.
Kate: With so many truly amazing restaurants in Philadelphia, it’s hard to pick just one. But if I had to, I think I’d have to say cheesesteak eggs rolls from Continental. I have friends from out of town that insist on going there just for that dish, and I happily take them!
Joanie: Dmitri’s restaurant in Northern Liberties has authentic Mediterranean food. If you aren’t a picky eater, this is definitely a place you need to check out! I’d suggest the grilled octopus and shrimp pil pil, although their entire menu is delicious right down to the hummus. They have a second location in South Philly and it’s BYOB, so make sure you bring a great bottle of wine to complement their flavorful dishes!
Madison: My favorite dish in Philly is at Distritos. They are a tapas restaurant run by Jose Garces, and offer some of the best Mexican food I have ever had! They have the best chicken soft tacos and homemade guacamole. And I can’t forget about dessert. Their flan is amazing! And it’s all in small portions, so perfect to share on a date or eat all by yourself without feeling like you are over-stuffed. If you want true Mexican food, you gotta go to Distritos!
Lindsey: I have a huge sweet tooth, so when I went to Max Brenner’s, it cured me of all my chocolate cravings. The chocolate martini tastes like an adult chocolate milk, and their chocolate chunks pizza with marshmallows and peanut butter puts all other pizzas to shame. And although they weren’t chocolate-covered, their waffle fries were pretty great, too!
Jillian: My favorite dish in Philly is from Kevin Sbraga of The Fat Ham. I’ve actually been to places in the southern US – including Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC – and still haven’t discovered a more perfectly fried oyster! The $6 mini-sandwich features a nice, big oyster, a bit of their housemade coleslaw, and tangy mayo smeared on a deliciously fluffy bun. Sbraga does southern cuisine better than Paula Deen herself!
Sam: Philadelphia has amazing restaurants and food from all over the world! If I had to pick just one, I would have to say that El Vez is one of my favorite restaurants! If you are looking for authentic Mexican food, then look no further! This trendy joint has the best burritos in the city – the vaca frita burrito is especially amazing! Take it from a foodie like me, El Vez has all your exotic food desires.
Emily: When thinking about the best thing I’ve ever eaten in Philly, my mind naturally goes to brunch – hands down my favorite meal! Although it’s an extremely hard decision, my pick has to be the braised bacon and kale grits from Tela’s Market & Kitchen over on Fairmount Ave that I had about over a year ago.
I was never really a fan of grits, but this meal made me a true believer. It was topped with two perfectly runny sunny-side-up eggs, and breaking the yolk and letting it seep through the creamy, buttery grits made this dish even better. The braised kale offered just enough bitterness to cut through the smokiness of the bacon and richness of the egg yolk. To my utter despair, this dish is no longer on the menu, but you can’t go wrong with any of Tela’s menu items that all use locally sourced ingredients.
Jess: It’s accurate to say Han Dynasty’s dan dan noodles are the best comfort food you can find on the East Coast. This essential appetizer clocks in at a 6 on Han’s spiciness scale, with just enough heat to get your cheeks flushed and nose running – but not enough to give you pause to come up for air for very long. They’re so addicting, you won’t pause for a drink until you’ve long dug through the tangle of soft, nutty noodles to the pile of crumbled pork collected at the bottom of the bowl.
Tori: As a true Philadelphian, and a true foodie this was hard for me to choose, but I am going to have to go with Steve’s Prince of Steaks. I was introduced to this sensation in middle school, and have always stood behind it as my favorite cheesesteak place in Philly. Wiz Wit. And if i’m feeling aggressive: cheese fries.
The fast-paced ordering is right up my alley. Being the indecisive person I am, I have such a hard time choosing from a big menu at most places. But Steve’s makes it simple: pick your cheese, and if you want onions or not, that’s all there is to it.
What is the best dish you’ve ever had at a Philadelphia establishment?
