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18 Ethnic Desserts To Try Before You Die

by Allison Stadd Jun 21, 2013, 5:45am EDT

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by Allison Stadd Jun 21, 2013, 5:45am EDT

1 comment / new

These desserts are all worth the hike.
Philly's reputation as a food town extends beyond juicy roast pork sandwiches and high-end pizza into a vast and varied selection of unique desserts. In fact, one of the strongest genres that gets little to no ink is our extensive collection of ethnic sweets, which runs the gamut from sticky-sweet baklava to flaky, buttery halvah.

For those of you with an insatiable sweet tooth, we've put together a list of the best and most unique sugary treats from all over town. Best of all, almost every culinary corner in Philly is represented here, with some boasting two or three list-makers. Without further ado, here are The 18 Ethnic Desserts to Try Before You Die.

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Bitar's

This Middle Eastern restaurant/grocery store has a giant dessert case bursting with fresh pastries from what’s called “fingers” - crushed cashews wrapped in fillo dough - to knafe, cheese pastry soaked in syrup and sprinkled with ground-up pistachios.

Open in Google Maps

947 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Visit Website

Bread Top House

For authentic and affordable Chinese pastries, Chinatown’s Bread Top House is a solid bet. Fragrant sesame red bean balls and fluffy pineapple custard buns are favorites.

Open in Google Maps

1041 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Mazza

The baklava at South Philly's Mediterranean Mazza is gooeyer than average, literally dripping with honey.

Open in Google Maps

1100 Jackson St, Philadelphia, Pa 19148

Baklava Cafe

This South Street spot’s thing is Mediterranean pastries, but it's not just baklava. Try the sesame pistachio cookies called barazik or the Lebanese maamoul, stuffed date-orange cookies.

Open in Google Maps

627 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Yummy Yummy

Ridiculous name aside, this Chinatown eatery dishes up delicious egg-shaped Chinese waffles made to order, either original or green tea white chocolate.

Open in Google Maps

52 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Heung Fa Chun Sweet House

Head here for authentic douhua, silky tofu pudding topped with ginger sugar and red bean.

Open in Google Maps

112 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Jamonera

The buneulos, Spanish donuts, are served doughy and warm with espresso dulce de leche, spiced chocolate ganache and sea salt.

105 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Visit Website

Also featured in:

15 Doughnuts to Seek Out in Philadelphia

Alma De Cuba

The chocolate cigars get all the attention but the creamy vanilla flan - vanilla bean custard, candied cherry puree, and almond praline - is equally satisfying.

1623 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Visit Website

Jamaican Jerk Hut

Conclude your island meal with traditional Jamaican Rum Cake infused with dark rum. Wash it down with Jamaican pineapple soda or carrot milk.

Open in Google Maps

1436 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Visit Website

Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties

It’s not just delicious spanakopita at this Reading Terminal stall. They’ve got several varieties of halvah and baklava, each better than the last.

Open in Google Maps

51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Taqueria La Veracruzana

The homemade flan and pastel tres leches at this Washington Ave taco shop are as tasty as the widely-applauded tacos al pastor.

Open in Google Maps

908 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Isgro Pastries

They’re Marc Vetri’s favorite cannoli for a reason. The shells are crisp, the ricotta strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory - and their URL is bestcannoli.com.

1009 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Koo Zee Doo

Don’t leave without trying the bolo de bolacha, a cake composed of stacked coffee-soaked wafers with buttercream and a tangy fruit compote.

Open in Google Maps

614 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Visit Website

Moctezuma Mexican Restaurant

The traditional sweet, cinnamony sopapilla is a great ending to a Mexican meal in Bella Vista.

Open in Google Maps

1108 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Modo Mio

Where better than Chef Peter Andrews’ Italian cult favorite to get luscious, not-too-sickly-sweet tiramisu?

Open in Google Maps

161 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Desi Chaat House

Head to Baltimore Avenue for creamy mango lassi, lahori kheer rice pudding, and spongy gulab jamun.

501 S 42nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Tashan

Kulfi, Indian ice cream, is a cardamom-spiced frozen dessert, not quite gelato, not quite ice cream. Tashan dishes it up in three flavors: mango, kesar-pistachio, and rose.

Open in Google Maps

777 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Visit Website

Kanella: Greek Cypriot Kitchen

Kanella's homemade galatopoureko, fillo pastry filled with a light semolina custard and drizzled with hot orange-cinnamon syrup, is a standout.

1001 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Visit Website

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Bitar's

947 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

This Middle Eastern restaurant/grocery store has a giant dessert case bursting with fresh pastries from what’s called “fingers” - crushed cashews wrapped in fillo dough - to knafe, cheese pastry soaked in syrup and sprinkled with ground-up pistachios.

Open in Google Maps

947 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Visit Website

Bread Top House

1041 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

For authentic and affordable Chinese pastries, Chinatown’s Bread Top House is a solid bet. Fragrant sesame red bean balls and fluffy pineapple custard buns are favorites.

Open in Google Maps

1041 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Mazza

1100 Jackson St, Philadelphia, Pa 19148

The baklava at South Philly's Mediterranean Mazza is gooeyer than average, literally dripping with honey.

Open in Google Maps

1100 Jackson St, Philadelphia, Pa 19148

Baklava Cafe

627 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

This South Street spot’s thing is Mediterranean pastries, but it's not just baklava. Try the sesame pistachio cookies called barazik or the Lebanese maamoul, stuffed date-orange cookies.

Open in Google Maps

627 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Yummy Yummy

52 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Ridiculous name aside, this Chinatown eatery dishes up delicious egg-shaped Chinese waffles made to order, either original or green tea white chocolate.

Open in Google Maps

52 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Heung Fa Chun Sweet House

112 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Head here for authentic douhua, silky tofu pudding topped with ginger sugar and red bean.

Open in Google Maps

112 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Jamonera

105 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

The buneulos, Spanish donuts, are served doughy and warm with espresso dulce de leche, spiced chocolate ganache and sea salt.

105 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Visit Website

Alma De Cuba

1623 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

The chocolate cigars get all the attention but the creamy vanilla flan - vanilla bean custard, candied cherry puree, and almond praline - is equally satisfying.

1623 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Visit Website

Jamaican Jerk Hut

1436 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Conclude your island meal with traditional Jamaican Rum Cake infused with dark rum. Wash it down with Jamaican pineapple soda or carrot milk.

Open in Google Maps

1436 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Visit Website

Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties

51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

It’s not just delicious spanakopita at this Reading Terminal stall. They’ve got several varieties of halvah and baklava, each better than the last.

Open in Google Maps

51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Taqueria La Veracruzana

908 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147

The homemade flan and pastel tres leches at this Washington Ave taco shop are as tasty as the widely-applauded tacos al pastor.

Open in Google Maps

908 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Isgro Pastries

1009 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

They’re Marc Vetri’s favorite cannoli for a reason. The shells are crisp, the ricotta strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory - and their URL is bestcannoli.com.

1009 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Visit Website

Koo Zee Doo

614 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Don’t leave without trying the bolo de bolacha, a cake composed of stacked coffee-soaked wafers with buttercream and a tangy fruit compote.

Open in Google Maps

614 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Visit Website

Moctezuma Mexican Restaurant

1108 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

The traditional sweet, cinnamony sopapilla is a great ending to a Mexican meal in Bella Vista.

Open in Google Maps

1108 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Modo Mio

161 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Where better than Chef Peter Andrews’ Italian cult favorite to get luscious, not-too-sickly-sweet tiramisu?

Open in Google Maps

161 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Related Maps

Desi Chaat House

501 S 42nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Head to Baltimore Avenue for creamy mango lassi, lahori kheer rice pudding, and spongy gulab jamun.

501 S 42nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Visit Website

Tashan

777 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Kulfi, Indian ice cream, is a cardamom-spiced frozen dessert, not quite gelato, not quite ice cream. Tashan dishes it up in three flavors: mango, kesar-pistachio, and rose.

Open in Google Maps

777 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Visit Website

Kanella: Greek Cypriot Kitchen

1001 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Kanella's homemade galatopoureko, fillo pastry filled with a light semolina custard and drizzled with hot orange-cinnamon syrup, is a standout.

1001 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Visit Website

Related Maps