Former El Rey chef Dionicio Jimenez opened his own restaurant in Kensington in February, cooking dishes that pay tribute to his 30-year career in kitchens from Mexico to Philly. At Cantina La Martina, Mexican cuisine inspired by Jimenez’s ten-year run at El Rey, and his youth in Puebla, Mexico, are all on offer: from tacos to tortas enchiladas to “los machetes,” or extra-large shareable quesadillas.

La Chingonita — the beloved roving Mexican food truck run by chefs Rebecca Baez and Omar Martinez — has found a permanent home on Girard Avenue where, if you catch them during the daytime lunch hours, Baez and Martinez will serve you carnitas tacos, tortas, and conchas that will change your life. Keep a lookout on social media — the menu changes often.

Philly is a bagel town — we’re blessed to have some excellent bagel-makers in practically every neighborhood around the city (looking at you, Korshak). Fishtown is lucky this April, as husband-and-wife team Alexandra and Jacob Cohen open their first Kismet Bagels brick-and-mortar on E. Girard. There you’ll find some of the same exciting bagel flavors that Kismet became known for over the pandemic — this time, with the option to turn them into sandwiches.

There are more than a few things to get excited about at Wilder on Sansom Street, starting with the lively leopard-print decor and electric blue booths. The menu is a nice mix of sea, land, pasta, and pizza, with fresh crudos and a nice raw bar, pesto pizza and lamb ragu casarecce, and a cocktail list that’s just a lot of fun.

Opened by three friends in West Philly, Golden Dragon Takeout is not just a restaurant where you can pick up to-go containers of delicious General Tso’s tofu or maduros and tod mun fish cakes. It’s also a restaurant that is dedicated to being a mission-driven community hub in the neighborhood: Local organizations collaborate with Golden Dragon regularly to make the restaurant a space where other small businesses can thrive and the community’s needs are served, too. The restaurant is takeout only.

For most of his career, Alex Tewfik was privy to the ups and downs of the restaurant industry. As the food editor at Philly Mag, he wrote about the challenges restaurant owners faced in great detail. But Tewfik never stopped thinking about his younger years as a server in restaurants, so when he lost his love for journalism, he decided to open one of his own. Mish Mish is that restaurant on Tasker Street, and it’s a simple spot with dishes inspired by Tewfik’s favorite ingredients — like pomegranates, octopus, and fennel — with an intersection at Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors.

East Passyunk Avenue is home to some of Philly’s best restaurants and we’re lucky to have another one in the mix. Ochos Rio Parrilla is serving up Jamaican food and cocktails, like beef patties, jerk chicken, oxtail stew, and triple rum punch. Platters are large and the space is cozy — another East Passyunk gem-to-be.

Chef Dane DeMarco’s new burger restaurant, Burgertime, may be in New Jersey but who doesn’t love a road trip? A quick drive over the bridge is worth it for Burgertime and DeMarco’s menu of Tater Tots, burgers, hot dogs, and sides. Miss Philly? DeMarco’s pork roll cheesesteak burger with cherry pepper relish will remind you of home. Bonus: Almost everything on the menu can be made vegetarian or vegan.