6 places
The Best Restaurant Openings in Philadelphia - May 2026
There has been a bumper crop of new restaurants opening in Philly this past month, with almost a dozen more on the cusp of debuting. Chefs are deeply entrenched in the popularity of baked potatoes, or “jacket potatoes” as they’re known in the UK, and savory martinis, trends that show no signs of slowing down. They’re also leaning into restaurants that evoke a specific time and place rather than attempting to represent an entire culture. Bar ILU, for example, is the kind of place you might stumble into in Madrid, not a Spanish tapas-themed restaurant. But as other openings illustrate, there’s always room in Philly for more red sauce Italian and hearty Mediterranean fare.
About the list
Mod Spuds
Mod Spuds started as the pop-up nobody expected from Ange Branca last December and this month opened a fast-casual storefront serving jacket potatoes smothered in Malaysian-inspired toppings. It’s a concept designed to be replicated, so hopefully Branca brings more Mod Spuds across the city even as she works to reopen her beloved restaurant, Kampar.
Waltz Restaurant
Waltz is an Italian-American restaurant in South Philly serving an array of seafood-forward classics like spicy crab lumache in vodka sauce, stuffed Maryland crabs with tartar sauce, and shrimp cocktail. There are also pizzas on the menu, along with oven-roasted steak and branzino. Red sauce joints will never cease to be popular in deeply Italian South Philly, as evidenced by the city’s enduring love of crab gravy and pizza.
Kor Mediterranean Table
Kor is a BYOB that brings a clubby, even beachy, vibe to the Queen Village neighborhood. There’s an enormous array of Turkish-inflected mezze alongside grilled classics like kofte and Adana kebabs. Walking by in the afternoon, you’re likely to hear Euro dance and chillout sounds drifting onto the sidewalk. Kor took over the space from longstanding Turkish BYOB Isot.
Palm Vintage Philadelphia
With one of the city’s most enviable views of City Hall, Palm Vintage has opened for daytime service with chirashi bowls and an excellent jambon-beurre sandwich. Dinner and cocktails are still forthcoming. The space is polished and slick, marked by forest-inspired wallpaper and deep blue banquettes. It’s the kind of place that works equally well for a daytime laptop session or lingering over lunch, and we’re excited to see what dinner brings, especially with mini omakases already teased online.
Love City Brewing
Love City Brewing in Callowhill has teamed up with Sophie’s BBQ of Delaware County for a new smokehouse and craft beer-focused restaurant in Manayunk. Philly has never really been known as a BBQ town, but maybe with Sophie’s brisket cheesesteaks, barbecued chicken sliders with Alabama white sauce, and even a smoked vegetarian meatloaf, it will be.
BAR Ilu
Bar ILU in Kensington, named for partner Patrick Iselin’s grandmother, Iluminada, isn’t a Spanish-themed bar so much as the kind of place you might stumble into in Madrid. Expect tortilla Española, plancha-grilled shrimp, croquetas, and chorizo: hearty Spanish bar food in a cozy 40-seat space.
