Cheesesteaks!!! (and more...)
Philadelphia is a food lover's dream with world-class restaurants. You can dine in restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world within blocks of the conference hotel. But, a visit to Philadelphia is not complete without trying a cheesesteak, a hot pretzel or water ice, all of which are original Philadelphia creations.
Cheesesteaks are not a steak with cheese but rather grilled thinly sliced beef on a long bread roll with cheese, in this case, Cheese Whiz (a liquid cheese you'll only find in America). You can find cheesesteaks all over the city, but the most famous cheeseteak places are Pat's and Geno's in South Philadelphia. Sound like a local and order a cheesesteak "wit" (a cheesesteak with Cheese Whiz).
Water ice is the Philadelphia version of Italian ice, but with a finer grain of ice. You can also find water ice all over the city, but the most famous is Rita's Water Ice which has many locations.
Philadelphia soft pretzels are not like the pretzels you see hanging under a heat lamp at a gas station. They're thick and chewy and must have hot mustard. You can find soft pretzels everywhere in the Philadelphia area.
(restaurants with a * are favorites of the conference chair)
Restaurants within walking distance of the DoubleTree
Bud & Marilyn’s* (American) 13th and Locust Streets (reservations suggested)
Nomad Roman Pizza (upscale pizza) 13th and Locust Streets
Estia* (Greek) 1405 Locust Street
Fado (Irish) 1500 Locust Street
Rooster Soup Co. (100% of profits go to Broad Street Ministries to feed the homeless) 1526 Sansom Street
Abe Fisher (American Jewish) 1623 Sansom Street
Dizengoff (Israel hummus) 1625 Sansom Street
Goldie (vegan) 1526 Sansom Street
Green Eggs Café (American) 212 S. 13th Street
Sahara Grill (Middle Eastern) 1334 Walnut Street
Jose Pistolas (Mexican, South American) 213 S. 15th Street
Volver (American) 300 S. Broad Street (reservations suggested)
Vedge* (Vegan/Vegetarian) 1221 Locust Street (reservations highly recommended)
Scoop DeVille (ice cream) 1315 Walnut Street
El Vez* (Mexican) 121 S. 13th Street
Capogiro* (gelato) 117 S. 20th Street
Shiroi Hana (Japanese) 222 S. 15th Street
Vetri (Italian) 1221 Locust Street (reservations highly recommended)
Barbuzzo* (Italian) 110 S. 13th Street (reservations highly recommended)
Indeblue (Indian) 205 S. 13th Street
Luke’s Lobster* (lobster rolls) 17 S. 11th Street
Sansom Street Oyster House* (seafood) 1516 Sansom Street
Minar Palace* (Indian) 1304 Walnut Street
Little Nonna’s (Italian) 1234 Locust Street
Monk's Cafe* (Belgian) 265. S. 16th Street
Dan Dan (Taiwanese) 126 S. 16th Street
Goldie (Middle Eastern) 1526 Sansom Street
HIpCityVeg (vegan) 127 S. 18th Street
Happy Rooster* (French bistro) 16th and Sansom Streets (reservations recommended)
Alma de Cuba* (Cuban, Latin American) 1623 Walnut Street (reservations recommended)
Philadelphia Chutney Company (Indian) 1628 Sansom Street
Marathon Gril*l (American) 16th and Sansom Streets
Sampan (Asian fusion) 124 S. 13th Street
Parc Bistro* (French) 227 S. 18th Street (reservations recommended)
Double Knot (sushi) 120 S. 13th Street
Bar Bombon (vegetarian, vegan) 133 S. 18th Street
Oloroso (Spanish, tapas) 1121 Walnut Street
Jezebel's Cafe (Argentinian) 2536 Pine Street
Chinatown Philly's Chinatown (the 3rd largest in the USA after New York and San Francisco) has restaurants offering cuisine from China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan. Go here http://www.philly.com/philly/food/Chinatown-Philly-LaBan-food-guide-dim-sum-sushi-Taiwanese-ramen.html to learn more about restaurant options in Chinatown. Or go here to learn for a guide to the best restaurants in Chinatown: https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2018/09/13/best-restaurants-chinatown-philadelphia / Within walking distance.
University City / West Philadelphia is the home of the University of Pennyslvania, Drexel University, and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, and offers restaurants with a variety of cuisines. A taxi, Uber, or Lyft is required (about 10-15 minutes). https://www.universitycity.org/
Abyssinia (Ethiopian) 229 S. 45th Street
Dahlak* (Eritrean) 4708 Baltimore Avenue
Vientiane Cafe (Vietnamese) 4728 Baltimore Avenue
Youma (Senegalese) 4529 Baltimore Avenue
Marigold Kitchen (American) 501 S. 45th Street (reservations recommended)
Desi Chaat House (Indian) 501 S. 42nd Street
White Dog Cafe* (American) 3420 Sansom Street (reservations recommended)
Baby Blues BBQ (Barbecue) 3402 Sansom Street
Reading Terminal Market is one of the oldest farmers’ markets in the U.S. 100+ vendors offer Amish, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Cajun, German, Middle Eastern and other cuisines as well as the infamous Basset’s ice cream and the best cannoli at Termini Brothers Bakery (Arch Street between 11th and 12th Streets) http://www.readingterminalmarket.org
East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia offers a variety of restaurants from cheesesteaks at rivals Pat’s and Geno’s to Mexican, French, Italian, and Dutch as well as great shops. http://www.visiteastpassyunk.com/. A taxi, Uber or Lyft is required.
Barcelona Wine Bar (Spanish tapas) 1709 East Passyunk Avenue
Bing Bing (Dim Sum) 1919 East Passyunk Avenue
Brigantessa (Southern Italian) 1520 East Passyunk Avenue
Cantina Los Cabalitos (Mexican) 1651 East Passyunk Avenue
Izumi (Japanese) 1601 East Passyunk Avenue
Le Virtu (Italian) 1927 East Passyunk Avenue
Noord (Dutch) 1909 East Passyunk Avenue
Perla (Filipino) 1535 S. 11th Street
9th Street Italian Market is in the heart of South Philly's Italian neighborhood with several blocks of stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables as well as cheese shops, butchers, food stores, bakeries and restaurants offering Italian and other cuisines (taxi required). https://italianmarketphilly.org/