The Year’s Best Dining Neighborhood, According to Philly’s Professional Eaters

As per tradition, Eater asked a group of restaurant journalists, bloggers, and friends of the site to weigh in on the year in food. Here, the experts choose the best dining neighborhood of the year.

The question: What was the best dining neighborhood of 2018?

Drew Lazor, Philadelphia-based freelance writer and author of Session Cocktails (Ten Speed Press, May 2018): Chinatown, like it is every year!

Alex Tewfik, food editor at Philadelphia magazine: South Jersey, baby. So many reasons, old and new, to cross the bridge now.

Regan Stephens, Philadelphia magazine managing editor and Food & Wine contributor: Fishtown may be the obvious choice with all its shiny newcomers (Suraya deserves every single accolade it gets!) but East Passyunk is still my number one. The sheer density of incredible, interesting spots (Sate Kampar, Le Virtu, ITV, Noord, Fond, Tre Scalini, etc. etc. etc.) — you just don’t find that everywhere.

Kae Lani Kennedy, food and travel editor at USA Today 10Best: I think East Passyunk, which has always been a dining neighborhood, has become one of the most diverse dining neighborhoods. I love how you can get rustic Nordic cuisine down the street from traditional Malaysian food.

Joy Manning, editor of Edible Philly: Being a resident, I’m sticking with East Passyunk. We’ve got city-defining, one-of-a-kind places like Laurel, Sate Kampar, and Palizzi Social Club. We’ve got casual gems like Stogie Joe’s. We’ve got a vegan brunch spot with The Tasty. And now we have Rival Bros, which is truly one of the best coffee houses in the city.