Mouthwatering Desserts in Philadelphia

The Franklin Fountain

★★★★☆ 4.1 (2265) • $$$

"Always stop here whenever you're in Philly! Good mix of classic and new flavors. This time had the Caramelized Banana. It was a hot evening and the line was long. The poor guys working were working hard and keep up the pleasantness. Same charming old-timey decor."

A La Mousse

★★★★☆ 4.4 (822) • $$

"Such a cute little shop! I saw they had so many cute little cakes for sale. My friend got me a vanilla cake with strawberries inside tonight. The cake I got was super cute, and the cake was moist and delicious! The icing and cream wasn't too sweet, so it was perfect for me. However, the strawberries were frozen, so it did feel super hard and cold to bite into. The girls at the counter were quick with the service and very friendly. I can't comment on pricing, since it was purchased by a friend, but we all enjoyed the cake."

Isgro Pastries

★★★★☆ 4.3 (575) • $$

"One of our friends turned us on to this bakery, and it did not disappoint...FYI, getting to the bakery is definitely an adventure. There is nowhere to park and it's located in a busy area.We did get a little lucky, though...We went on a Saturday morning, very close to opening. This allowed us to find parking a few blocks away, but more importantly,  they were not busy yet. We weren't able to try the cakes, but the cannolis were so delicious.They offer four different style and all were so rich, creamy, and addictive. With crispy shells and decadence inside.... I had to force myself to stop eating them all at once!But the cookies were actually the best.Delicate , flavorful, nutty, scented, filled, rich and layered with flavorThese cookies made me rethink Italian pastry.I dont think I have ever had Italian cookies that good...in fact, I know I haven't.Each cookie was different,  but had the same magical quality...sweet but not too sweet.  Crunchy and smooth, a complicated concoction of what I am assuming is 100 years of trial and error, and hard work.I have never called a cookie well balanced,  or even considered such a thing....but these are....and it makes me so happy!Heavenly!"

Bassetts Ice Cream

★★★★☆ 4.2 (511) • $$

"Best ice cream I've had thus far in Philly. Grabbed a shake on my way to the airport. I have no shame...I finished it by the time I arrived to the terminal. Located inside the Reading Terminal Market, Bassett is family owned and has been in business at this spot for 4 generations, since 1892. There are several options to enjoy, cones, cup, shakes and pints to take home. The staff was helpful with suggestions but I made my own creation. A vanilla shake with chocolate swirls inside and caramel drizzle on top. That was some real tasty goodness. The line moved fairly quick and the atmosphere was great."

Café y Chocolate

★★★★★ 4.6 (424) • $$

"Wow. We have dined here before and it has always been good. Today is was great, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. I started with the lemon ginger honey tea which exceeded my expectations. All the ingredients were FRESH, no tea. For lunch my husband and I shared the brisket tacos and seafood soup. I started with the brisket tacos w/ consommé... I can't believe how good they were. The consommé was so rich and complex, the brisket crispy yet juicy. The seafood soup was made with guajillo and tomato broth served with the perfect crusty bread. I ate it until I could not eat anymore. Atmosphere is welcoming and authentic. The barista was friendly and knew what he was doing. We live this place, you will too."

The Sweet Life Bakeshop

★★★★★ 4.8 (386) • $$

"I was in town visiting and my friends and I did a day trip to Philly. After have a great lunch I needed to find a place perfect for desserts. I came across The Sweet Life Bakeshop. They certainly lived up to their hype via other reviews. The chocolate cake used for the cupcake was fantastic. I prefer a little more icing than what I had. But, that's preference. My favorite item was the banana pudding! It had the perfect texture! I understand all the rave about it. Service was wonderful and delivered with a smile!"

Scoop Deville

★★★★☆ 3.8 (590) • $$

"This place is a must. They have such unique flavors and the ice cream itself is not icy at al and super creamy. It's very decadent and the cone is a must. It's sweet without being overpowering with sugar."

Sweet Box Cupcakes

★★★★☆ 4.3 (300)

"I did not even eat the cupcakes at Sweet Box Cupcakes and now I feel...foolish. However, I did try nearly everything else! Bring on the 5 star chocolate chip cookie (cakie, flakey salts, ribbons of chocolate), edible frozen cookie dough (goodbye my lover goodbye my friend I ate you for basically every meal across two days) and the amazing dirty jawn which is a brookie oreo creation (that I initially said I'd "freeze for later" but ended up eating much of...then ultimately throwing away because I feared it's power over me...you win this time, Dirty Jawn).Okay so now that that's out of the way, service here is amazing and I honestly didn't think prices were that bad, though I may be in the minority. The dough was only like $6 and you can't find that price in a grocery store so...support local for your edible raw dough needs. The service and vibes here are both excellent and it's hard to imagine going anywhere else for a sweet treat. Excited to grab treats for visitors and stop by anytime I find myself on that side of Broad."

Cake Life Bake Shop

★★★★☆ 4.2 (286) • $

"Thoroughly enjoyed a slice of Campfire Cake and Red Velvet. While the Campfire was both flavorful and surprisingly light, the Red Velvet was a star for us. We'll be back!"

Apple Walnut Café

★★★★☆ 4.4 (242)

"Apple Walnut Cafe is as homegrown as it gets especially walking in and seeing all the patrons and even some of the staff wearing their Eagle's gear! It was a packed house but it still only took 10 minutes to be seated. We were greeted with small sample bites of their apple walnut bread which was amazing. I really wanted to order pancakes but based on the size I saw at someone else's table. I opted to get a Philly steak omelette with home fries. The eggs were soft and the home fries had that slight crisp on them, just the way I like them. I really enjoyed the energy in the room and how it felt like everyone knew each other. I definitely will be back for the pancakes."

Baan Thai Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (278) • $$

"Came here on a rainy Saturday afternoon for lunch with a party of 5. It's a great hidden gem in Northern Liberties. The chef was our server for the afternoon, due to the unfortunate circumstances that their server couldn't make it in. The chef is very passionate about her food and it shows. Everyone enjoyed their dish. I ordered the secret menu item which is the sow fish (I think that's how you spell it). It was AMAZING 10/10 would recommend, I hope she puts it on the menu. The flavor profile was light and citrusy, the sauce was delicious the fish was perfectly cooked. The chef also made it extra spicy because I love spice. This will be our new go to Thai restaurant. They also have a really delicious Thai coffee which I might like better than Vietnamese coffee, and a really bug dessert menu, so do not skip out on dessert."

Southwark Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (255) • $$$

"What an awesome dinner. Southwark had been on the list for a while and we were finally able to go. Perfect night to dig out back in the courtyard. Cocktails are great and clever. Wine list is small but solid and appropriate for the menu. The beef tartare toast appetizer was great, but the grated horseradish was a little too overpowering to appreciate the tartare. The duck was PERFECT. I say that rarely and it was perfect. Enough fat to want to eat the crisp. Little enough that fat wasn't your entire bite. Perfectly cooked. The chive mezze rigatoni was in a fantastic yet simple sauce, you'd want to drink it. The double cheeseburger was solid but the fries really stole the show. Ended the night with the corn soufflé cake which is both the weirdest and most delicious combination of flavors. So impressed with the meal. Can't wait to come back."

The Cheesecake Lady

★★★★★ 4.8 (191) • $$

"Be sure to just check their Instagram to see what daily specials they post. Her cheesecake is HEAVEN. Also, everyone working there is so nice and they love what they do. You can tell in the cake and how they talk about it. Once you see what they have - be sure to get it - once they run out it's over for the day. That's how you know it's good."

The Night Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (235) • $

"Yesterday was my 50th birthday y'all. Yes, my big 5-0 just happened to land in the middle of a pandemic so of course I threw one hell of a house party. And I have to say that of all the good things I received my cake was the star of the show.I've had my eye on this cake for a few years ever since a friend posted a picture of hers on Instagram. I don't indulge in sweets because I have a milk allergy but for this occasion I made an exception and it was absolutely to die for. Sweet, tart, lemony and moist, if you like lemon bars or the like you will want this cake. You don't have to special order it because it's available daily but you should call ahead if you want an inscription. And don't be ridiculous and get the small one, just hand over your 30.00 for large and thank me later."

Koch's Deli

★★★★☆ 3.8 (288) • $$

"I was a guest at Penn Medicine for a few days. I had enough with the food and asked my husband to bring me something good when he came to visit. He brought me the biggest and most delicious pastrami special. Very good food. The only complaint was parking was difficult."

Ice Cave

★★★★★ 4.9 (162) • $

"Went to Ice Cave after lunch one Sunday afternoon and got the matcha Taiwanese shaved ice. It was big enough to share with two other friends :) it was a tasty treat that hit the spot. Great fluffy texture but still very creamy and milky which satisfied my sweet tooth. It included mochi pieces and peanut and chocolate flavored candies. When I ordered I didn't realize there would be toppings and I didn't have the option to choose, but I still enjoyed the toppings that I got. They don't do sit down so make sure to plan ahead since it's getting colder. Luckily there are some nearby parks if you're looking for a place to sit. Really enjoyed Ice Cave! If I were to make a modification, it would be nice to have the option to pick toppings or for it to at least be clear on the menu!"

El Merkury

★★★★☆ 4.3 (205) • $$

"I've heard about this place a few times and finally stopped in to grab a quick lunch to-go. The vibe inside seemed very clean and casual. I got two taquitos to-go- one chicken and cheese and one chile chicken. First of all, I was thrilled that this was only $7. I didn't know lunches under $10 still existed in Philly. I was even happier that it was delicious. The chile chicken is actually spicy but in a fun way- not in the way that makes you cry. The service was super quick, too. I think I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Will definitely be back to try more from the menu."

Tartes Pastry Shop

★★★★☆ 4.2 (211) • $$

"I'm not a big fan or tart person (more a croissant person), BUT this tart is the BEST tart I've ever had in Philly (and my life)!!! This is how their tarts are good Food: the crust is so perfectly balanced between buttery crumbled & moist. Filling was so fresh that they definitely used the fresh peach. I was so impressed that they sweetened it on point that I can give them the perfect complement an Asian could say to a dessert: "It's not that sweet!" I'm 3000% sure will be back to here to try out their every single tart they bake!! Service: the front cashier lady was really nice to explain the flavors for a first timer like me :) Vibes: this is a dessert shop that you can't sit down/dine-in, it's a grab-go & enjoying your sweets at home/park for picnic events."

Mr Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (216)

"Consistent and delicious rolls. My favs: Dynamite, Godzilla, Valentine, and NE Viking. While a lot has shifted to takeout post-COVID, dining in here is also a good choice: still solidly great service, and also remember this is a BYOB."

Fairmount Flavors

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (295) • $

"As the other Yelpers have mentioned, the sweets here are a bit of a splurge. But to me, they're worth it.Personally, I'm addicted to their slammers with lime Italian ice. I'm also a huge fan of their popular gelato custard with vanilla ice cream and mango Italian ice. On a hot day, there's nothing more satisfying than having a smooth, silky, and refreshing vanilla custard ice cream along with the sweet and tangy mango Italian ice. Service here is pretty quick. Even when there's a line, they don't take too long to serve each customer. And since it's a take-out only spot, don't expect to get a seat inside their shop since there isn't one. Fairmount is a beautiful neighborhood with lots of scenic areas to enjoy your icy treats though."

Matcha Cafe Maiko

★★★★☆ 4.4 (145) • $$

"Cute little shop ice cream was delicious would definitely bring my friends from out of town to try"

Yummy Yummy

★★★★☆ 4.1 (162) • $

"This is rapidly becoming my favorite go to spot for eggy-waffles in all of Chinatown, partly because they sell it for just $2.50 and there's only one waffle machine, making the wait seem a little bit more magical and slows down your daily grind. CASH ONLYMust get: eggy waffles, takoyaki (takes 15 min)Meh: curry fish balls, pork/veggie buns (beware of the rice paper)Missed: noodlesWhen you arrive, it's clear that this little store has something for everything, and it's all within $2-4. My favorite of course, is the eggy-waffles that is made right in front of you with the store's secret batter. The magic of the waffle is not just the fact it's made fresh, but it forces you to take the time and wait patiently as the batter sizzles and forms into hot little balls of magic that's sweet on the tongue, but not overwhelming. It's an amazing snack to devour solo or share with friends. The first time I had it, it was perfection, the second time felt a little less cooked.Yummy Yummy's next best item is the takoyaki, and I highly recommend eating it while it's still piping hot and inhaling as you eat. I like how the bonito flakes dance around and I was glad that the balls weren't too oversaturated with the mayo-sauce.Unfortunately, I was not a big fan of the pork buns, despite it's $0.90 price, as there was just not enough filling. The curry fish balls were good and juicy, but a little on the pricier side for just 4.At the end of the day, the eggy waffle stole the show and I highly recommend visiting this little shop."

A La Mousse

★★★★★ 4.8 (104)

"Yooooooo! The dessert at this place are the real deal. It was my birthday so we made a special trip to A La Mousse and we're not disappointed. First-I appreciate they were open late so we got to experience this treat. The options were plentiful, involved true artistry, and had such a flavor variety. I chose the flourless chocolate plus mousse cake slice and it was so rich and decadent. My daughter chose the bear mousse and the hardest part was eating such a cute confection. You can't go wrong visiting this amazing place-oh and get a cappuccino-it was the perfect pairing."

Pancho's Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (110) • $

"You MUST get the churros at Pancho's. Hot, crisp, not too sweet, cream-filled, with a delectable chocolate dipping sauce, they were the star of the meal. The fish burrito I got was solid, too, though personally I wish it were cheesier/saucier. The quality of the ingredients and the flavors were pretty good though. Came with fresh, thick tortilla chips and some green salsa and hot sauce. Service was decently friendly and fast. The place is kind of small with only like five tables, and not super decorated, but it gets the job done. Really solid Mexican spot, though with Fishtown prices. The churros are so worth it, though. Please take this as a sign to go try them immediately."

Sweet Nina's

★★★★★ 4.7 (96) • $

"Got to make a pit stop to Sweet Nina's on the way to an event and had to get some of their delicious banana pudding. On Sundays, the only option is the classic banana pudding which is fine with me! I grabbed myself a classic and got right down to eating. They really make a perfect blend in proportion of banana to vanilla wafer. I'm not the biggest fan of too many banana chunks and banana pudding. There's about double the wafers. There are banana chunks which is perfect for me. I can't get over how delicious their banana pudding is. It's definitely worth the $7 cup."

More Sugar

★★★★★ 4.7 (91) • $$

"Unassuming from outside: walk too fast and you'll miss it. Inside is nice with a very friendly and welcoming staff. Cash only.Chinatown is getting saturated with dessert options with the same options being offered everywhere. More sugar definitely stands out because they have a very unique menu: charcoal latte, cream boxes and their tofu/burnt durian cheesecakes are few examples. They should call it less sugar (I mean it as a compliment) because all the sweets and lattes are mildly sweet - which is my personal preference so I had thoroughly enjoyed everything here. Got the Charcoal latte (new favorite), Matcha Peach latte, Taro cream box, and Burnt Durian Cheesecake. Everything was delicious but my personal favorite was the burnt durian cheesecake: so unique and contrary to what may seem from the name not heavy at all! Taro cream box was scrumptious and tasted very authentic - not artificial at all and you can tell it is made from actual taro and not a mix/powder (so many do that now)."

Seafood Unlimited

★★★★☆ 3.5 (164)

"I decided to celebrate national fried shrimp day 2022 at Seafood Unlimited. I hadn't been there in probably 15 years. It turns out I made the best choice I could have possibly made. I stopped by during happy hour and they have a great happy hour. Good discounted drink specials and plenty of discounted snacks. There is shrimp on the happy hour menu, but I went for the Jumbo friend shrimp entrée from the regular menu. The shrimp were actually jumbo, juicy, and perfectly fried. The best friend shrimp I've had in Philly since the days of Bookbinders. If you like fried shrimp, this is the place to get them! The entree comes with a generous portion of crispy fries and tasty cole slaw. I wanted to sample more of the menu so I also tried the New England clam chowder. A hot bowl of soup almost as good as what you get in New England. I ended my meal with the carrot cake dessert. It was a bit cold and would have been better served at room temperature. But all the expected carrot cake deliciousness was there in that slice.I ended up staying at Seafood Unlimited longer than I anticipated. The people at the bar were nice and the bartender, Morgan, is awesome. The fried shrimp were to die for! I'll be back to try more of the menu!"

Tiffany's Bakery

★★★★☆ 3.6 (152) • $$

"I passed by on Friday night and I saw slices of chocolate strawberry shortcake. The lady at the store told me that they are only available on Fridays. Just like the regular strawberry shortcake, each slice is huge. I without a doubt prefer the chocolate version because it's richer but not too sweet. I wish it is available during the whole weekend."

Ava's Ice Cream and Water Ice

★★★★★ 4.9 (70)

"You will have a hard time choosing a flavor at Ava's! Plenty of water ice and ice cream flavors on the daily. The homemade ice cream flavors are a favorite. Double Dark Oreo and Holy Cannoli are some favorites. They have converted the store into a walk up ordering window to make ordering safe and quick. There isn't really anywhere to sit so take your cool treats to go. Ava's usually closes in the wintertime. Great local family run business you can feel good about supporting!"

Sunshine Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (108)

"They have a huge menu and the now rare budget friendly options! We've always had great service at sunshine too"

Senorita's Mexican Taqueria

★★★★☆ 4.1 (95) • $$

"You would pass it if I didn't tell you about it. Right next to the McDonald's on Lancaster, this new space is BYOB but they have horchata... don't sleep! This is a family business and the food is fresh with a ton of flavor. Hearty portions and great churros! The reviews are right, this is the spot. Go and go again. Pleasant friendly service with a smile in a clean open space you can see the kitchen."

The New American Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (88)

"If you're reading this review go here now! Okay, now that I've got your attention let me tell you about one of the BEST dining experiences I've had in Delco. As a Delco native and current Philly resident I can say for sure that delicious dining is few and far between in the Interboro/Ridley area but this place takes the absolute cake. We came here last night to celebrate birthdays and the food was absolutely phenomenal. I mean some of the most complex, delicious, fresh, perfectly cooked, absolutely beautiful flavors I've had in a while. Ordered by my party: Myself - Oysters (so fresh and delicious) & octopus salad special with artichokes, capers, and black olives (see picture) that was huge and charred to absolute perfection - so tenderOthers (all had rave reviews and were HUGE portions) - Chicken parm - I was told the sauce was divine and it definitely needed a box for leftoversSpecial steak and shrimp asian-style pasta dish - I forget the name but the "appetizer" size was ordered and basically came with a whole filet of steak (perfectly cooked btw) and needed a box for leftoversPork belly special with pumpkin ravioli, apples, veggies, and cranberries (my husband now requests that I learn how to make these raviolis as he described they melted in his mouth) Soups - lobster bisque, clam chowder, & mushroom soup (apparently I need to learn to make this, too haha)Dessert - tiramisu & creme brulee cheesecake. The tiramisu was absolute perfection (I stole a bite) and not overly sweet. Creamy and divineI wish I had more characters to write about how absolutely amazing everything was. There wasn't a single dish served that was anything less than stellar. It's BYOB and the prices may seem high but don't be fooled, the portions are so so so big that you'll absolutely have leftovers and the flavors and ingredients make every penny worth spending. I was so pleasantly surprised, deeming myself a bit of a food snob, that I may actually go visit my family more often just as an excuse to come here. Final note: If you have any food allergies/aversions I would suggest asking for the ingredients. While pleasantly surprised and absolutely delighted for the complex flavors/ingredients there were some that ended up on plates that weren't listed on the menu (cranberries & capers for example). I'll be back!"

A La Mousse

★★★★★ 4.5 (73)

"I've visited A La Mousse a couple more times since my first review and I can tell you that my opinion of their desserts has not changed. Their desserts are spot on! However, my Cherry Blossom Matcha Latte left a lot to be desired. The drink was too watery and not very sweet. For a bakery that claims to be all about sweet stuff, the drink was actually kind of bitter. I think they may have said that they didn't make enough of the cherry blossom part of it, I'm not sure, but if that's the case, maybe they should've made the drink again instead of giving it to me as it was. It wasn't very pleasant to drink at all, so I threw it out and feel I wasted my money on it. :("

Oui

★★★★☆ 4.3 (77) • $$

"Had a strawberry croissant and iced coffee. Loved both! Would definitely come back and try more."

Ny Gyro & Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (64)

"The discovery of this amazing eatery came down to pure luck, location, and other reviews but I will be back because the entire lunch experience was absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!First, don't come with a group of friends because there is no room for groups but if you are meeting a friend for lunch or doing lunch alone you can't go wrong!!SUPERB SERVICE ... the two gentlemen who were behind the counter were helpful and so friendly! I loved being able to carry on a conversation throughout the meal and their concern with whether or not we enjoyed lunch.Actually, I should point out that the meal I purchased at Ny Gyro & Grill was both my lunch and dinner because the portion of their delicious food was enough to serve as both meals.I went with the recommendation, which was perfectly prepared and had a great flavor but when offered their homemade hot sauce I definitely added it! Another plus for some their meat is halal!"