If you tried to keep track of every brand new restaurant in Philly, you might go a little bit crazy. So just read this list instead. These are the new restaurant openings that seem like they have the most potential - although keep in mind, for the ones we haven’t tried, we make no promises. Go forth and be a pioneer.
Editor’s Note 7/13: All restaurants listed below are currently open for carryout, delivery, or outdoor dining.
August 2020

Pizza Jawn
We got a new addition to Philly’s growing pizza scene with a spot in Manayunk called Pizza Jawn. They opened on August 8th with just takeout to start.
Char Kol
Chef Michael Schulson just opened up a new fully-outdoor pop-up called Char Kol. The Korean BBQ spot is located outside of Giuseppe & Sons and focuses on grill-it-yourself meats like pork belly and thinly-sliced beef short rib. A few tables are available for walk-ins, or you can make a reservation here.

The Wayward
The Wayward, a new French-American spot, opened in Center City with seating for around 30 people on a terrace covered in string lights. For now, they’re doing dinner (plus Happy Hour from 4-6pm) daily - and you can book a table through their website.
July 2020

Anejo
Anejo, a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar with two locations in NYC, opened their first spot in Philadelphia. It’s in Northern Liberties (in the Piazza), and has 50 outdoor seats available to reserve.
TBD. The Breakfast Den
The Breakfast Den, a new Vietnamese all-day cafe, has opened on South Street. You can check them out on Instagram, and visit them from 8am-4pm, Tuesday through Sunday to try a crispy tofu banh mi or a “hangover helper” burger.

The Lucky Well
The Lucky Well, a new Memphis-style BBQ spot that already has a spot in Ambler, has opened their first Philadelphia location in Spring Arts. They’re currently doing both curbside takeout and outdoor dining, Thursday through Sunday.

The Land On Callowhill
The Land On Callowhill is a new seasonal beer garden from the people behind Brauhaus Schmitz. The fully-outdoor space is essentially just a landscaped lot with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs serving beer, cocktails, and a short menu of bar bites.
Alma Del Mar, a.k.a. the seafood restaurant featured on the most recent season of Queer Eye, is finally open for takeout. Options include things like mango salad, salmon burgers, and tres leches pain perdu.

Zig Zag BBQ, a new fast-casual spot next to Martha in Kensington, is serving everything from ribs to vegan sloppy joes to spicy Persian cucumbers.

Juno Mexican Grill
Juno, a completely outdoor Mexican bar on Spring Garden from the people behind Harper’s Garden and Rosy’s Taco Bar, is serving everything from tacos and nachos to wheelbarrows full of cocktails.
June 2020
Bao Nine
Bao Nine, a fast-casual bao bun spot in Rittenhouse Square, offers buns that range from pastrami and mustard to tahini and falafel. Plus, you can order build-your-own bowls and a few sides. It’s only doing takeout for now.

Darnel's Cakes
Darnel’s cookies, cakes, brownies, and bars are available for pickup at their new Northern Liberties spot. You can order through their online shop.

Unsoul Food
Unsoul Food, which has been operating as a pop-up shop for its vegan soul food for the last year, finally has a permanent home in Fairmount. Their fully vegan menu has things like Beyond cheesesteaks and personal pan mac and cheese.
May 2020

Hunnie's Crispy Chicken
Hunnie’s is a new, takeout-only fried chicken spot that serves things like fried chicken sandwiches, chicken and waffles, and salads, as well as the option to make any of it vegan by swapping in tofu.
February 2020
You probably already know about Tired Hands - a brewery based out of Ardmore - because of their popular frothy milkshake IPAs, or because you’ve been to their seasonal beer garden in Fishtown. Right across the street from Tired Hands Biergarten is St. Oners, their tiny new bar and restaurant with a full menu of dishes like salt and pepper wings to big bowls of rice and noodle plates.
Fiorella
The people behind Vetri have opened a new spot in the Italian Village. Fiorella is a tiny pasta bar with only 16 seats, and it’s all walk-ins - so you’ll have to wait if you want to get in. The entire menu is just four pastas, three salads, and wines by the glass.

Dim Sum House
One of our favorite dim sum spots in West Philly just added a new location in Rittenhouse. Dim Sum House will serve a similar menu to their first location, with things like soup dumplings and Peking duck. There will also be a few new items, including honey vinegar spare ribs and stir fry brussels sprouts.

Casa Mexico, a new spot in the Italian Market from the people behind South Philly Barbacoa, is serving both lunch and dinner daily (except for Wednesdays). The menu is short and changes every day, but expect affordable, large plates of things like tacos, enchiladas, and pescado veracruz.

Renata’s Kitchen & Bar
The new Renata’s Kitchen, a Mediterranean breakfast and lunch spot in West Philly, just took over the old Trolley Car Station Diner space. The new one is much bigger, and in addition to breakfast and lunch service, they will start serving dinner when they get a liquor license.

Every dinner at Laser Wolf, the new Israeli grill in Kensington from the team behind Zahav, includes around a dozen vegetable-based salads as well as pita and hummus. The only decision you have to make is what type of grilled meat skewers you’d like - choose from lamb merguez, beef kebabs, or even chicken shishlik in a guava marinade. The space is casual and looks kind of like an open-air market, with colorful tablecloths, string lights, and big tables to fit you and all your friends.

Human Robot
When Poe’s (a Fishtown sandwich shop) closed in 2019, we weren’t sure if they were coming back at all. But they did, and their new home is located in a Kensington brewery called Human Robot. Right now, the huge space has five beers on tap, as well as local ciders, wine, and a natural seltzer that you can add your flavor of choice to. Of course, Poe’s signature fully-loaded sandwiches, plus a few other snacks like fries and burgers, are available as well.
Fabrika
Fabrika is part restaurant and part cabaret, with a giant, hydraulic stage where aerialists, contortionists, dancers, and musicians perfrom. In terms of food, the menu’s Mediterranean, with the people behind Kanella Grill overseeing everything.