eat like Bourdain
🇺🇸 Where Bourdain Ate in Philadelphia
9 places across The Layover & Parts Unknown
“My relationship with Philadelphia has always been complex. It's a city that doesn't care if you don't get it — and I respect that.”
Bourdain visited Philadelphia for The Layover in 2012, exploring a city whose food scene was exploding beyond cheesesteaks. He connected with the new wave of chefs — Marc Vetri, Michael Solomonov, Han Chiang — who were transforming Philly into a serious food destination. He also made a memorable Parts Unknown trip to Camden's Donkey's Place for what he declared the region's best cheesesteak.
What Bourdain Loved About Philadelphia
The Italian Market on 9th Street — Di Bruno Bros. and the old-school vendors
The 'city-wide special' — a shot of whiskey and a beer, the Philly way
Zahav's modern Israeli cuisine that put Philadelphia on the national map
The dive bars — Dirty Frank's, Pen & Pencil Club — where real Philadelphians drink
Roast pork sandwiches — better than cheesesteaks, and he said so
The no-bullshit attitude — Philly doesn't apologize for itself
Episodes Featuring Philadelphia
The Layover — S2 E3: Philadelphia
A whirlwind tour of Philly's new restaurant scene with local chefs
Parts Unknown — S6 E2: New Jersey
Crosses the river to Camden for Donkey's Place cheesesteaks
Travel Tips for Eating in Philadelphia
Tony's Advice
Start at the Italian Market on 9th Street. Eat your way south. End at Dirty Frank's with a city-wide special. This is Philadelphia.
What to Skip
- ✕Chain cheesesteak spots on Market Street
- ✕Tourist-trap restaurants in Old City with colonial cosplay
- ✕Anywhere that calls a hoagie a 'sub'
Every Place Bourdain Visited in Philadelphia
9 placesDi Bruno Bros.
930 S 9th St
Bourdain starts his Philadelphia tour at this legendary Italian Market cheese shop, operating for over 80 years. He samples artisanal cheeses and cured meats with owner Emilio Mignucci before heading into the market.
Paesano's
148 W Girard Ave
Tony meets owner Peter McAndrews and orders four sandwiches: the Liveracce (fried chicken livers with sopressata), Gustaio (lamb sausage), Arista (roast pork), and the Paesano (brisket). The Liveracce is declared his favorite.
Stateside
1536 E Passyunk Ave
A craft beer and spirits bar in South Philly focusing on American-made drinks. The real highlight: Bourdain gets a glass of rare 20-year Pappy Van Winkle bourbon with a single ice cube.
Dirty Frank's
347 S 13th St
A legendary cash-only dive bar where Bourdain meets Han Chiang (Han Dynasty) for the Philadelphia 'city-wide special' — a shot of Jameson and an IPA. The walls are covered in decades of local art and memorabilia.
Pho 75
1122 Washington Ave
Bourdain meets chef Michael Solomonov (Zahav) for morning pho at this no-frills Vietnamese institution. They share steaming bowls of beef pho while discussing the city's food scene.
Zahav
237 St James Pl
Chef Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli restaurant that helped put Philadelphia on the national food map. Bourdain samples the hummus, laffa bread, and coal-grilled meats in one of the city's most acclaimed restaurants.
Pen & Pencil Club
1522 Latimer St
The oldest continuously operating press club in America, now an after-hours drinking den for journalists and the restaurant industry. Bourdain famously does a shot of hot dog water after losing rock-paper-scissors to the local chefs. He also downs an Irish Bus Bomb — a pitcher of Guinness with Jameson.
John's Roast Pork
14 Snyder Ave
Bourdain visits this South Philly institution during his New Jersey episode, declaring the roast pork sandwich — with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe — better than any cheesesteak. A local secret that draws lines around the block.
Donkey's Place
1223 Haddon Ave, Camden
In his New Jersey episode, Bourdain crosses the river to Camden and declares Donkey's Place makes the best cheesesteak in the region — served on a round poppy-seed roll instead of the traditional hoagie roll. A bold statement in Philadelphia territory.
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