The Most Delicious Diners in Philadelphia

Cedar Park Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (333)

"Beautiful place to have food nice cup of coffee. Everyone was very friendly outgoing. I recommend this to anyone who just wants to sit down and have a great time."

Olympic Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (33)

"They know how to cook!Buried back in my memories is this place. Maybe, my memories are playing tricks on me, but I could swear my buddy (and sometimes, his wife) and I would go there late at night. The hours are like 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. now, so no more late nights. It wasn't the kind of place people claim as "drunk food"--this was too good for that.After my not so great meal at Andy's Diner yesterday, I wanted some place that wasn't a problem--Llanerch Diner, Manoa Diner, Red Lion Diner, or Olympic Diner. Red Lion Diner on Red Lion Rd. in Northeast Philly seems to be gone, crab cakes and all.I got to Llanerch Diner (on Township Line Rd. in Upper Darby/Havertown), on the other side of the road, and thought that I wanted something I knew, where there were good memories. Manoa Diner had changed hands a while back and wasn't it, so I drove down to Clifton Heights and found Olympic.I'd never been there in the morning, and didn't know their routine. I took a place on the counter, and after about 1 minute, one of the women asked me what I wanted to drink. After that, I figured that I'd try the same thing I had the previous day: scrapple, scrambled eggs, home fries, and toast. I tried to cancel the toast, but "it comes with the meal" I was told. I'm not that into bread.The other woman was cooking, and I could already see a couple thick slices of scrapple on the grill, since the grill was almost right in front of me. She had everything finished quickly and it looked great--no white potatoes or running scrapple.It tasted really good, almost as I remembered those times way back when. Isn't that the best?The women were friendly, and they seemed to be having fun with the regulars. The diner had all the old stainless steel bits and the jukebox at each booth. It felt like the kinda place you go when you're a neighbor, and everyone knows everyone else. I'd imagine that the place had been open since the 1940s or 1950s and hasn't changed much. It's so much more appealing than some chain restaurant."

Sulimay's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (135) • $

"The fact that I just visited Sulimay's for the first time, is a personal letdown. I can't imagine how often I would eat here if I lived closer to Girard. If you want a taste of Fishtown, then look no further...this diner has all the feels of what Fishtown represents: from the wait staff, to the art on the walls, to their menu (which has specific callouts and creations that showcase culinary ties to the local neighborhoods).I was completely blown away with my dish, which was scrapple and white fish mix with eggs. I am not embarrassed to say this, but I had an audible expression after my first bite...which immediately drew the attention of my family sitting with me, and they knew that I had ordered the winning plate. This is something that I've never seen on the menu anywhere else, it was the perfect combination of crunchy/spicy/buttery and dense. Also, when they ask you the option of the type of potatoes you want, you have to go with their home fries - unreal!it's a local vibe without the "locals only" expectations. This is absolutely a visitors destination for breakfast or lunch and one that you should try to schedule in, no matter where you're staying at in the city."

Sunny's Diner

★★★★☆ 3.6 (11)

"Nikki is awesome!! The food is delicious and reasonably priced!! The pork roll and home fries were both amazing. Eggs were light, fluffy, and moist. There were 3 people up front taking care of customers on a Tuesday morning. I will definitely be back if I find myself in the area again."

Ace Diner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (38)

"When the waitress called me "Sugar," I knew my meal was going to be good.There's something about old diners that look terrible on the outside and are full of 'family' on the inside. You know, a place where folks frequent so much they turn into family? Everybody knows everything about everyone. We heard convos across the diner and it felt like home.Our meals were served pretty quick, piping hot. We grubbed as we discussed the Eagles in the Super Bowl. That's of course the talk of this town these days. My daughter had two huge pancakes and worshipped every bite. I had eggs, bacon and home fries with onions. Our waitress was super sweet and we were in and out in less than 30 mins and under $20. What more can you ask for?"

Vicky's Place

★★★★☆ 3.9 (32) • $

"Simple breakfast foods. Limited seating but turn around is pretty quick. Home fries were ok. Pancakes were great. Service was friendly. Cute and quaint."

Gateway Diner

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (41)

"This diner is underrated. After coming here many times with friends I feel I have enough reason to now fairly rate this place.It has a fairly cozy atmosphere as two sections of the diner are available for people to be served good food. The breakfast was great so much so I thought I wasn't trying other kinds of food so I got some things that were different too on some visits. That food like for lunch is good too! Besides regular expected breakfast fare they provide hot sandwiches and some have deals like a soup on the side (Note: And the soup was tasty!). I hope many more people come here though it does seem to get nice enough business. If anyone is on the road passing through this and they have time and a hankering for some well-made meals I suggest try out Gateway Diner!"

Philly Sunnyside Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (23)

"Got some takeout from here for breakfast one morning while on vacation in the area. It was good. Was only take out my hubs picked up so can't say much else."

Sophusion Fine Dining

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (43)

"The ambiance, food, and service was 5 star; a bonus for me is that it is BYOB and black owned. Our server as well as management of the restaurant checked on us throughout our dinning experience, attentive but not smothering. There was five of us, we each got appetizers...my least favorite was the crabcake, it wasn't flavorful but it did have lumps of crabmeat in it. My favorite appetizer was the sweet chili calamari and pan seared oxtail dumplings; both were delicious. We all loved our entrees, the presentation of each dish was 5 star and the food lived up to the beautiful presentation. I got a side of the crab fried rice, sooo good!!! The cajun seafood alfredo as well as the salmon dish was delicious. The ambiance and decor is classy. It is not a large restaurant but we did not feel crowded, I would recommend making reservations. I look forward to dining here again, next time I will try their brunch menu."

Llanerch Diner

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (261)

"Home of the Silver Linings Playbook booth. When you enter at 11:30pm and your server tells you she just put on a fresh pot of decaf,you know your in good hands. The place is a long standing go to diner in Delco. They are open late and have a standard diner menu. The seat of my booth is duct taped together. If you need fancy don't bother coming. If you need quiet stay home. This place is hopping and the food is hot and tasty. The place is clean and the staff knows their stuff. Yeah some dishes aren't perfect, but the fries are good, breakfast foods and soups work and desserts are delish."

Oregon Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (246) • $$

"Get ready for giant portions and delicious food! Diners can be hit or miss but this place has fantastic food. The portions were much bigger then we were expect and had plenty of leftovers. The service was pretty good and we were well taken care of. The restaurant is pretty large so we had no wait and got a comfy booth. Their prices are a little high but for the portion sizes I think it's fair. We will definitely be going back!"

Stargate Diner

★★★★☆ 3.6 (102)

"Coming here for 5 years and for some reason I checked the reviews for Stargate today. I was surprised that I saw a couple of Negative reviews.Come on people this is a suburban Diner not a five star Philly dining destination. It should be reviewed like a hometown diner. Consistently, the service is good, the place is clean and the food is good. I would also add that there is plenty of offstreet parking and as it's conveniently located on Chester Pike, just a stone's throw away from interstate 95, It's a good place to try if you're just looking for some casual food at very reasonable prices in a pleasant atmosphere. For commuters it is literally down the steps from the train stationToday's meal: The BB (Baltimore Beau) had a Fried flounder sandwich and absolutely loved it. He said that the flounder was very fresh and the breading was light. I who am not a fan of fried or breaded food wasn't convinced unless I took a taste. I did and I agreed with him that it tasted very fresh.I had the Santa Fe salad. I was given the option to have it delivered as made or to have it chopped. I am so glad I picked the chopped option. My deep dish of salad greens was chopped in such a fashion that they were nicely bite-size and the Santa Fe seasoned chicken on top was plentiful. I ate a third of it and when full I brought leftovers home. At Stargate you'll be assured that portion sizes are generous. As for staff it always seems to be staffed by somebody in charge and it shows. The wait staff are pleasant, quick and accurate in delivery of items ordered. The boyfriend remarked that the place looked like it had recently been redone but I told him that it's been a few years and that it probably looks so good because they keep it so clean. Seating is also very comfortable. If you're in the middle of Delaware County and looking for a place to eat in a casual, relaxed atmosphere Stargate fits the bill"

Julian's Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (26)

"While in Philly / NJ I wanted to support as many soul food establishments as I could. While the offerings here weren't my style, I could tell that the business is a valuable asset in the area and the owner is working hard. As a single female traveler, I can say don't be intimidated or hesitate about the area. Just park on the main drag, plug the meter, and walk over. It's a busy part of Olney shared by a diverse range of Hoomans."

K & J Caribbean American Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (53) • $

"You get a ton of food. You can't finish the medium meal in one sitting. Not to mention it's $12. You can't shake a stick at that. I got the BBQ jerk chicken, rice and sweet potatoes. The sides are heavy too. The meal must've weighed a couple pounds. Food was pretty good. You pick a main and then you get 3 sides. They are all in metal serving containers so they can serve them right away. That being said it took about 20-25 minutes for me to get my meal but my friend got his immediately. That was strange. I got a seamoss shake too which was delicious. So if you're looking for bang for your buck than you're in luck!"

Good Morning Breakfast Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (8)

"I can't believe I've lived 2 blocks away from this place and never knew it was even there. My friend and I were just driving by and decided to make a quick breakfast stop. Doesn't look like much from outside, but was pleasantly surprised to find a super cheep and pretty decent breakfast and lunch spot. I'm holding the menu in my hand right now and the most expensive thing is $6.75."

Upland Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (78) • $

"I went to Upland diner with high expectations and we all know how that goes. It was morning so I got a cheesesteak and egg sandwich. They have a pick window. Order at the window and they will bring your food to your car. This was a fresh roll and I love it when I pick up a fresh roll. It was $12.29 after tax. As a cheesesteak with egg it was small. As an egg and cheesesteak sandwich I would have liked home fries. I didn't like the fried onions. It was a good sandwich and a very nice woman waited on me but it could have been better.Reese chocolate Chip pancakes caught my eye!!"

Cosmos Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (88) • $$

"What a time warp this place is. Classic Greek-run diner with decor to whip you right into 1980.Pastels, linoleum, and those ever-so oddly placed statues.Give this place another 5 years and maybe just a table top reno and this place will be the next retro hub coming totally full circle.[please get those table top music machines that you can flip through pages of songs and play for a quarter!! Lean all the way into it!!!Extensive menu- of course.But went with a Turkey and cranberry sandwich (comes with chips)Slippery dumpling order with chickenAnd a chocolate milkshake (hold the whipped)Service was pleasant and attentive. Food came out quickly. And for a $24 dinner, I really can't say much.Plenty of parking. Big ol neon sign outside so you can't miss it. For an off the beat, local diner in sort of the middle of nowhere, did the job.Over heard a few other customers talking about having ate there earlier for breakfast now coming back the same day for dinner so I'm sure the locals love it. Seems the kind of place where they get a lot of regulars."

Bob's Diner

★★★★☆ 3.6 (190) • $

"This place needs no rating. It is THE diner. When you think of a northeastern diner, this should be the place that immediately comes into your mind. This place needs no recommendation, it just is and you should go here if you want to breakfast."

Folcroft Diner

★★★★☆ 4.1 (189) • $$

"Delicious!! So glad we stopped in , portions are generous staff is friendly and food was hot and made fresh!!"

Classic Diner

★★★★☆ 3.8 (500)

"11/24/22 Review of Catered Thanksgiving OnlyWe decided to have Thanksgiving cooked for us. Last years debacle- Founding Farmers - I heard was horrendous, expensive and the food was awful- the turkey was tough and chewy from that restaurant. Classic Diner from what I know has catered meals at my company, they've done weddings and many events. This company came highly recommended to my mom from a friend. Classic Diner did not disappoint!!My mom picked up this massive meal from the warehouse in West Chester. The employees helped her load the car as well which was very much appreciated.I would recommend heating the food much longer than the directions say- especially if you order the 20 person meal.The turkey was carved, succulent and delicious, presented nicely browned with rosemary, cranberries and citrus. We ordered the cinnamon sweet potatoes that were so delicious and tasted great with nutmeg infused into the recipe. There may have been walnuts in those- great texture and taste! We ordered delicious whipped potatoes, the green beans with pearl onions (Al dente), the herbed stuffing was really splendid too and my dad's favorite part- the gravy was rich and delicious. I would highly recommend this as an option if you aren't up for cooking the whole Thanksgiving meal! No yucky carcass to pick through and leftovers galore!Excellent and high quality food! Don't hesitate but get your order in early."

Penrose Diner

★★★★☆ 3.9 (489)

"In spite of having not visited Penrose Diner during the two visits I have had to Philadelphia for the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run; I vowed to visit it during my third trip to the city since it sits right across from the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Arpt-Stadium Area where I typically stay. I must say that I finally realized that Penrose Diner is a hidden gem in South Philadelphia; this classic diner has been around for more than 50 years in Philadelphia which is why I had to visit. And I put off getting in an early morning run, just so I could visit once the diner opened because I have seen how busy it gets! In fact, that is a reason why I was deterred from visiting in the previous years. Once I entered the location, I waited, then proceeded to the bar area for a seat, rather than a booth seat in the dining area. The server, Colleen, did her tasks behind the counter, acknowledging me by asking me if I needed anything to drink and a menu in-between doing her tasks. Once I was ready to order after looking at the menu, I ended up ordering a short stack of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and a small orange juice which was presented to me within an acceptable time frame. I enjoyed sitting at the bar because there was a television plastered ahead which gave me something to look at. Prior to taking my first bite of the scrambled eggs, I smirked as Adele 'Hello' played in the background because it is a song I absolutely adore! The scrambled eggs tasted fantastic! And the short stack of pancakes did not disappoint as I knew they would not; there were plenty of syrup containers given to make it taste just the way I like. My only regret with the short stack was that I should have ordered just one pancake rather than the short stack, because I ended up not eating all of it. In-between eating, I could not help but overhear the genuine employee interaction with one of the regular customers. Oh my, these Philadelphian accents, I always look forward to hearing them when I visit Philadelphia because it is a breath of fresh air in comparison to midwestern accents in Chicago.In closing, I am quite positive that I will revisit Penrose Diner being that I frequently stay at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Arpt-Stadium Area, plus I enjoyed my meal! With that being said, I most definitely recommend this diner if you plan to visit Philadelphia. ~ Be obsessively grateful. ~Thomas G"

West Chester Diner

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (117)

"We didn't order anything fancy. But gotta say the server & owner (who rang us up) were so friendly.I think this place would be best after hours."

The Terminal Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (118)

"Party of two dined in on monday for brunch at noonThe place is located in intersection but the sign was not very standing out i missed it at first and turned around and found it Place was packed but we were escorted shortly after.Price was very affordable and inexpensive but not many options.. no ice coffee,, (cash only!! They have onsite atm machine) I ordered farmers omelette which was pretty good! Cinnamon french toast was good but that was the thinnest French toast Ive ever had in my life I added blue berry as topping it was good choice Coffee comes in with food My friend ordered regular breakfast dish, (for some reason she didnt like it as much) I might go back if im in the area and need to have a breakfast"

Sam's Morning Glory Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (816)

"Generous portions of a variety of not too common breakfast meals. Everything made in-house from scratch including the biscuits. Fast, friendly service with a hometown, local atmosphere."

Persis Indian Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (82)

"The food was delicious! We came to dine in on a weekday evening, so there wasn't a lot of foot traffic. However, the kitchen was plenty busy with the amount of takeout they needed to make.Service was prompt and one of the co-owners even stopped by a few times to check on us, which we appreciated. We ordered lamb rogan josh, chicken curry, garlic & plain naan, and shrimp tandoori. I was really happy to have a glass of mango lassi nearby, especially when the capsaicin started kicking in. Everything came out steaming hot! And the spicy level was well balanced. We love spicy foods, but can't consume super spicy levels anymore for health reasons. I'm glad the server asked what spice level we wanted, and that we went with the mid-level spice. The only thing I'd do differently next time is to request less salt be used in our dishes.There was plenty of food left over to take home with us. It was a very enjoyable dining experience, and I recommend Persis if you're craving Indian cuisine!"

Kitchen B & L

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (19)

"Breakfast and Lunch is doing them and they're doing themselves well. Breakfast cheesesteak, $7.20, came with fries, tables, parking, bathroom and everyone was nice as could be. You can see in the pictures it's not the prettiest or biggest Cheesesteak but for all the stuff I listed above I'm not going to hate on them. Very good overall experience."

Mary's Lunch

★★★★★ 4.7 (11)

"Great little breakfast spot, lots of bacon in the order, real rye toast, no soft rye nonsense, eggs done perfectly, would go back again"

Blue Jay Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (17)

"My husband and I walked in here and walked out. It was a very depressing environment with no music playing and the booths were very uncomfortable. We waited for a couple of minutes and although there was staff present no one came to give us menus or to offer us a glass of water etc. I can't comment on the quality of the food since we didn't stay long enough to try it. Seeing the picture of the toilet though that another yelper put is enough to make me never go back. Shame."

The Dining Car & Market

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (277) • $$

"One of things I love about going home to Philly is going to neighborhood diners with my friends and family. My friends and I went to the Dining Car this past Sunday and were happy we did. The food was delicious, the staff were helpful and friendly. No one rushes you out which is awesome when you have catching up to do with your Besties :0) We all enjoyed the butter cake, I enjoyed the French toast, and my friends enjoyed the Apple Crepes - they were so happy they weren't made with canned apple pie filling. The wait staff are always going around to see if you want more coffee or tea. Next time, I want to try one (or more) of the tasty treats I saw in the bakery. It's a nice diner feel with plenty of conversation happening all around. Check them out!"

The Rooster Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (40)

"The Rooster Diner, Media, PA. Different Breakfast sandwich #8 in the last 2 weeks. It looks like an old Denny's but it ain't a Denny's no more. I got an artsy creative vibe. I got the scrapple egg and cheese on white toast with hash browns. There was a lot of scrapple. The hash browns were brown like they should be. I was expecting more from my toast. Everything else looks and sounds amazing so I was expecting more out of the toast. $9.99 seemed a touch pricey. I don't know how I didn't get a Peanut Butter Bomb. Call for JUDGES!! 3rd annual March Cheesesteak Madness is underway. Donkey's Place is the People's Champion. The Judge's bracket is at the Sweet 16. Do you want to be a judge? contact me. All of my videos are on my YouTube channel; Philadelphia Cheesesteak Adventure. Please subscribe to my channel, like and comment on my videos! Thank you!"

Fishtown Diner

★★★☆☆ 3 (258) • $$

"Dined in during the middle of the night after being out - service was awesome, food was great, and the welcoming atmosphere was enough to make us excited to go back again! Restaurant layout is so cute and definitely worth the visit."

Keystone Grill and Family Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.5 (59)

"Little side of the road diner that caught my eye. Think the building was an old Pizza Hut. When you enter you see the familiar claw machine game in the lobby area, the smell of breakfast food and senior citizens hits the nostrils. You know you're in a good little family diner. There is a large dining room and we were seated at a booth right away. The best part was the server asked for our drinks right when he sat us, some places make you wait forever to even put drinks in. Diner OJ and coffee standard but good. This place has the "hangover" or no judgement if your kids make a bit of a mess vibe and I love it. Our server was very attentive and friendly and our food came out quickly and how we ordered it. Sometimes you take for granted just getting it right. The sausage gravy over biscuits were solid. I added some over medium eggs on top and a side of scrapple. You could tell it's all homemade in the sense it's not overly seasoned or processed food. Easy on the stomach and somewhere you could go a million times and get the same quality. This will probably always be a side of the road gem but for us lucky enough to stumble onto it, we'll keep it that way. The owner mentioned they've been there for 11 years and thanked us for going in. Just felt like home a little. Don't go here looking for a fancy pants artisanal something but if you just want to wear your pjs and get some food, this unpretentious little hut of food and family will do you good."

Minella's Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (438)

"08/04/24The place was packed with customers and a line was and down the door. Really great diner w/ a lot of options for food, drinks and dessert. I really liked that their menu was simple and not big or confusing and too many pictures. There were Greek food options and if there's one think abt the Greeks it's that they are clean and organized and know food. The food from 1-10 scale was a freakin 10. From the breakfast to the salads, to their hot sandwiches. Everything was picturesque, delectable, clean, amazing decor, family friendly and kid welcoming even if they're crying it's understandable. The manager was even seating and helping staff out and the staff was doing an amazing job to manage the busy Sunday morning traffic. Our server Amy was amazing and very hospitable and respectful and friendly and her quickness made everything very smooth and simple. We definitely will be back for more!"

Cafe Lift

★★★★☆ 4.2 (1382) • $$

"In town for a fun mini girls weekend and given that there are literally countless brunch options in Philly we decided to go with an option fairly close to our hotel that had more of a fun and diverse menu ... so we landed on Cafe Lift.Our wait was only 10 minutes during peak brunch hours on a Saturday which was AMAZING and we were swiftly seated on the second floor of their dining space which has a really light and airy retro done right vibe.Our server was very patient with us and paid us the perfect amount of attention while also providing perspective and recommendations on the menu. We honestly ordered so much freaking food that it didn't fit on the table and we didn't get to take pics of it all because we were too busy stuffing our faces.Every single thing we ordered was BOMB! And I mean EVERY SINGLE THING! From the Cheesesteak & Egg Breakfast Sammie on a Pretzel Bun, to the Taylor Ham, to the Cannoli French Toast, to the Shakshuka, to the Sourdough Grilled Cheese to the Coffee ... nothing missed!We of course had to take a ton of food to go which made us excited because it meant we would be able to experience the flavor party once again later in the day. Highly highly recommend this place because we will certainly be back! Oh and it's BYOB too!"

Down Home Diner

★★★☆☆ 3 (443)

"Friendly service. The only place in Reading Terminal Market that has its own (separate) dining area. They also have counter/bar service. Reasonable diner prices. The menu has diner type food. Everything was cooked well and delicious. The only thing I wish is that they offered vegetarian meat options."