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Gabriella’s Vietnam.
Gabriella’s Vietnam

Lean Into Philly’s BYOB Restaurant Culture

Corkage fees are uncommon, so bring your own bottle of wine, beer, or even spirits to avoid the alcohol markup at these great BYOBs

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Gabriella’s Vietnam.
| Gabriella’s Vietnam

Thanks to Pennsylvania’s decades-old alcohol laws and the challenge and cost of obtaining a liquor license, many Philadelphia restaurants embrace one of the country’s most unique drinking workarounds: Bring Your Own Bottle policies. Diners can bring bottles of wine, bubbly, beer, cider, sake, and even spirits to dinner at Philly’s many great BYOBs; corkage fees are uncommon so you can save a ton of money on alcohol when you curate your own beverage pairings.

Bring-your-own restaurants, also sometimes called BYOs, range in style from homey neighborhood spots to upscale fine dining destinations and serve every type of cuisine. Here are some of Philly’s best BYOBs.

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Figs, chef Mustapha Rouissiya’s cash-only Moroccan BYOB in Fairmount, should be on everyone’s list for the baked brie, eggplant lasagna, lamb shank, and whole fish with special charmoula sauce. The vegetable platter with couscous is also a delight, whether or not you’re vegetarian. Try a bottle of agiorgitiko from Nemea or a red from Illyria.

Apricot Stone

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With a mix of Mediterranean, Armenian, and Middle Eastern flavors from chef and co-owner Fimy Ishkhanian, Apricot Stone in Northern Liberties is the destination for prix fixe meze or dinner-for-two menus. Bring a few bottles of crisp whites (assyrtiko from Greece or musar blanc from Lebanon) and chillable reds (xinomavro from Greece) to enjoy alongside hummus plates, boreg, and lamb kebabs.

Chef Michael Millon curates A Mano’s menu according to the seasons, so you can expect a dynamic dining experience whether you opt for three or four courses. The appetizers and house-made pasta courses include fish, chicken, and pork shank in traditional Italian preparations with a twist. Of course, it all goes extremely well with any Sicilian wine, like nerello mascalese.

Elwood represents chef Adam Diltz’s argument that Philly is so much more than cheesesteaks and soft pretzels. He sources everything locally to support regional farmers and purveyors at the Fishtown restaurant, which specializes in Pennsylvania Dutch country cuisine and serves family-style entrees for sharing. Try out the rabbit or the striped bass, ideally paired with bottles from Pennsylvania’s close-to-home wineries, or come for weekend tea service, which includes a signature venison scrapple.

Umai Umai

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Located in the Fairmount neighborhood, the cozy Umai Umai from chef Alex McCoy is a great spot for stir-fries, seafood paella, and inventive sushi rolls like the Krakken with shrimp tempura, eel, avocado, soft-shell crab, cherries, aioli, and almonds. BYO sake, pilsners, or white wine.

Pietramala

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Eater Philly’s pick for best new restaurant of 2022, Pietramala is an Italian-inspired vegan BYOB offering an intimate dining experience in Northern Liberties. Chef Ian Graye cooks with locally sourced ingredients, so the menu shifts, but keep an eye out for highlights like the fire-roasted delicata squash or the salad of escarole with radish, fennel, and fermented ramps. There’s a $20 corkage fee per bottle.

Terakawa Ramen

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Head to this Japanese noodle house either in Chinatown or in University City for the ultimate ramen experience, including a couple of vegetarian ramen bowls — BYO sake. Terakawa Ramen is first-come, first-served — tough for planning in advance but ideal for a last-minute dinner.

Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine

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Although the focus at this Center City BYOB is on Malaysian cuisine, Banana Leaf takes inspiration from Chinese, Indonesian, and Thai cuisines as well. The roti, satay, and clay pot curries are bursting with vibrant spices and aromas. Don’t forget to try the Singapore rice noodles — they’re unmatched. Bring a 6-pack of Thai Singha beer.

This intimate Mediterranean BYOB in Old City has a wide array of pasta dishes to satisfy most tastes. Head to Olea on a Monday night with a bottle of Yarden cabernet sauvignon or Recanati chardonnay to complement the food — just remember to bring cash.

Amma's South Indian Cuisine

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Chef Sathish Varadhan’s essential Indian restaurant focuses on centuries-old South Indian dishes like rasam (lentils with spices and curry leaves), medhu vada (doughnut-shaped fritters), curd rice (rice made with yogurt and spices and curry leaves), idli, and dosas. Amma’s, which has locations in University City and New Jersey in addition to this Center City restaurant, can also cater to your heat-level preference. Pair the delightful food with lighter-bodied red wines, crisp whites like sauvignon blancs or vinho verdes, or pale ales and lagers.

Buna Cafe

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Buna Cafe stands out amid West Philly’s strong Ethiopian scene as a BYOB. Bring along a Spanish red from Ribera del Duero or a white such as a verdicchio and use spongy injera bread to scoop up doro wot (chicken and hard-boiled eggs) as well as vegan treats like shiro and ingudai tibs. Dig into a veggie or meat combo to ensure you get a hearty mix.

Mabu Kitchen

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Warm hospitality shines at Mabu, where Canadian-born chef Ayad Sinawi and his partner, Grace Cavallo, meld French and Southern influences at brunch and dinner. It’s magic from start to finish, from a cauliflower steak to a smash burger to confit fried chicken and scallion waffles. End your culinary journey with banana pudding. This Washington Square West restaurant is an excellent place to tuck into some weekday comfort food with a cider, IPA, or elegant natural wine from France.

Sakana Omakase Sushi

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Bring your favorite sake to upscale Queen Village restaurant Sakana, which offers just one dining option: an omakase tasting menu that changes constantly. The chef-led experience is one of the city’s best bets for sushi, featuring the likes of fish aged expertly by owner Xiang Yu (Sam) Lin.

Lazeez Indian Cuisine

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Lazeez’s tandoori Malai chicken and lamb biriyani are made to perfection in a typical Mughlai style. Try gobi (cauliflower) or chicken Manchurian and fried rice too. Bring along a lightly sweet Indian lager like Kingfisher or grab something crisp and easy-drinking from the likes of Dock Street Beer.

Aroma on 3rd

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At Aroma on 3rd, head chef and co-owner Antonio (Tony) Cardillo focuses on specialties from all regions of Italy. Originally on Pine Street in Washington Square West, Aroma continues to offer a compelling range of house-made pastas, breads, and desserts in Pennsport. Try the tartufo, gnocchi gorgonzola, or vitello Abbruzzese. Don’t forget to bring a bottle (or two) of barbera, dolcetto, or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

Chef Lou Boquila’s modern take on Filipino food comes as a prix fixe Kamayan style of communal dining on banana leaves at Perla, with everything from pork lumpia to a whole fried fish. If you’re bringing beer to the restaurant just off East Passyunk Avenue, consider a bright lager or pale ale; for wine, an off-dry riesling or a pinot grigio would be perfect.

Gabriella's Vietnam

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Gabriella’s is the East Passyunk manifestation of chef Thanh Nguyen’s dream to bring Vietnamese flavors to Philadelphia and to introduce each dish as it is served in the streets of Vietnam. Locally sourced ingredients make their way into water fern dumplings, savory crepes with pork and shrimp, shaken beef, and a whole fried fish. Definitely bring some Thai Singa beers, pinot bianco, or riesling.

June BYOB

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Richard and Christina Cusack moved June BYOB from South Philly to Collingswood, New Jersey, without losing any of the charms of their seasonal French fare. The main attraction is canard a la presse, carved table-side during a set meal that you must reserve in advance; it’s a showstopper that could only be heightened by the addition of wine from Burgundy or Rhone.

Zeppoli

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Philly is stuffed with unforgettable Italian American food but some of the absolute best is across the Delaware River in Collingswood. Here, chef Joey Baldino, who also runs Philly’s excellent members-only Palizzi Social Club, serves house-made pastas, delicious meat and fish courses, and deluxe desserts, all leaning toward the traditions of Sicily. Wine made from nero d’Avola, the native Sicilian grape, should carry you through the entrees, at which point you should uncork a fortified dessert wine like sauternes to go with Zeppoli’s namesake doughnuts for dessert.

Figs

Figs, chef Mustapha Rouissiya’s cash-only Moroccan BYOB in Fairmount, should be on everyone’s list for the baked brie, eggplant lasagna, lamb shank, and whole fish with special charmoula sauce. The vegetable platter with couscous is also a delight, whether or not you’re vegetarian. Try a bottle of agiorgitiko from Nemea or a red from Illyria.

Apricot Stone

With a mix of Mediterranean, Armenian, and Middle Eastern flavors from chef and co-owner Fimy Ishkhanian, Apricot Stone in Northern Liberties is the destination for prix fixe meze or dinner-for-two menus. Bring a few bottles of crisp whites (assyrtiko from Greece or musar blanc from Lebanon) and chillable reds (xinomavro from Greece) to enjoy alongside hummus plates, boreg, and lamb kebabs.

A Mano

Chef Michael Millon curates A Mano’s menu according to the seasons, so you can expect a dynamic dining experience whether you opt for three or four courses. The appetizers and house-made pasta courses include fish, chicken, and pork shank in traditional Italian preparations with a twist. Of course, it all goes extremely well with any Sicilian wine, like nerello mascalese.

Elwood

Elwood represents chef Adam Diltz’s argument that Philly is so much more than cheesesteaks and soft pretzels. He sources everything locally to support regional farmers and purveyors at the Fishtown restaurant, which specializes in Pennsylvania Dutch country cuisine and serves family-style entrees for sharing. Try out the rabbit or the striped bass, ideally paired with bottles from Pennsylvania’s close-to-home wineries, or come for weekend tea service, which includes a signature venison scrapple.

Umai Umai

Located in the Fairmount neighborhood, the cozy Umai Umai from chef Alex McCoy is a great spot for stir-fries, seafood paella, and inventive sushi rolls like the Krakken with shrimp tempura, eel, avocado, soft-shell crab, cherries, aioli, and almonds. BYO sake, pilsners, or white wine.

Pietramala

Eater Philly’s pick for best new restaurant of 2022, Pietramala is an Italian-inspired vegan BYOB offering an intimate dining experience in Northern Liberties. Chef Ian Graye cooks with locally sourced ingredients, so the menu shifts, but keep an eye out for highlights like the fire-roasted delicata squash or the salad of escarole with radish, fennel, and fermented ramps. There’s a $20 corkage fee per bottle.

Terakawa Ramen

Head to this Japanese noodle house either in Chinatown or in University City for the ultimate ramen experience, including a couple of vegetarian ramen bowls — BYO sake. Terakawa Ramen is first-come, first-served — tough for planning in advance but ideal for a last-minute dinner.

Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine

Although the focus at this Center City BYOB is on Malaysian cuisine, Banana Leaf takes inspiration from Chinese, Indonesian, and Thai cuisines as well. The roti, satay, and clay pot curries are bursting with vibrant spices and aromas. Don’t forget to try the Singapore rice noodles — they’re unmatched. Bring a 6-pack of Thai Singha beer.

Olea

This intimate Mediterranean BYOB in Old City has a wide array of pasta dishes to satisfy most tastes. Head to Olea on a Monday night with a bottle of Yarden cabernet sauvignon or Recanati chardonnay to complement the food — just remember to bring cash.

Amma's South Indian Cuisine

Chef Sathish Varadhan’s essential Indian restaurant focuses on centuries-old South Indian dishes like rasam (lentils with spices and curry leaves), medhu vada (doughnut-shaped fritters), curd rice (rice made with yogurt and spices and curry leaves), idli, and dosas. Amma’s, which has locations in University City and New Jersey in addition to this Center City restaurant, can also cater to your heat-level preference. Pair the delightful food with lighter-bodied red wines, crisp whites like sauvignon blancs or vinho verdes, or pale ales and lagers.

Buna Cafe

Buna Cafe stands out amid West Philly’s strong Ethiopian scene as a BYOB. Bring along a Spanish red from Ribera del Duero or a white such as a verdicchio and use spongy injera bread to scoop up doro wot (chicken and hard-boiled eggs) as well as vegan treats like shiro and ingudai tibs. Dig into a veggie or meat combo to ensure you get a hearty mix.

Mabu Kitchen

Warm hospitality shines at Mabu, where Canadian-born chef Ayad Sinawi and his partner, Grace Cavallo, meld French and Southern influences at brunch and dinner. It’s magic from start to finish, from a cauliflower steak to a smash burger to confit fried chicken and scallion waffles. End your culinary journey with banana pudding. This Washington Square West restaurant is an excellent place to tuck into some weekday comfort food with a cider, IPA, or elegant natural wine from France.

Sakana Omakase Sushi

Bring your favorite sake to upscale Queen Village restaurant Sakana, which offers just one dining option: an omakase tasting menu that changes constantly. The chef-led experience is one of the city’s best bets for sushi, featuring the likes of fish aged expertly by owner Xiang Yu (Sam) Lin.

Lazeez Indian Cuisine

Lazeez’s tandoori Malai chicken and lamb biriyani are made to perfection in a typical Mughlai style. Try gobi (cauliflower) or chicken Manchurian and fried rice too. Bring along a lightly sweet Indian lager like Kingfisher or grab something crisp and easy-drinking from the likes of Dock Street Beer.

Aroma on 3rd

At Aroma on 3rd, head chef and co-owner Antonio (Tony) Cardillo focuses on specialties from all regions of Italy. Originally on Pine Street in Washington Square West, Aroma continues to offer a compelling range of house-made pastas, breads, and desserts in Pennsport. Try the tartufo, gnocchi gorgonzola, or vitello Abbruzzese. Don’t forget to bring a bottle (or two) of barbera, dolcetto, or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

Related Maps

Perla

Chef Lou Boquila’s modern take on Filipino food comes as a prix fixe Kamayan style of communal dining on banana leaves at Perla, with everything from pork lumpia to a whole fried fish. If you’re bringing beer to the restaurant just off East Passyunk Avenue, consider a bright lager or pale ale; for wine, an off-dry riesling or a pinot grigio would be perfect.

Gabriella's Vietnam

Gabriella’s is the East Passyunk manifestation of chef Thanh Nguyen’s dream to bring Vietnamese flavors to Philadelphia and to introduce each dish as it is served in the streets of Vietnam. Locally sourced ingredients make their way into water fern dumplings, savory crepes with pork and shrimp, shaken beef, and a whole fried fish. Definitely bring some Thai Singa beers, pinot bianco, or riesling.

June BYOB

Richard and Christina Cusack moved June BYOB from South Philly to Collingswood, New Jersey, without losing any of the charms of their seasonal French fare. The main attraction is canard a la presse, carved table-side during a set meal that you must reserve in advance; it’s a showstopper that could only be heightened by the addition of wine from Burgundy or Rhone.

Zeppoli

Philly is stuffed with unforgettable Italian American food but some of the absolute best is across the Delaware River in Collingswood. Here, chef Joey Baldino, who also runs Philly’s excellent members-only Palizzi Social Club, serves house-made pastas, delicious meat and fish courses, and deluxe desserts, all leaning toward the traditions of Sicily. Wine made from nero d’Avola, the native Sicilian grape, should carry you through the entrees, at which point you should uncork a fortified dessert wine like sauternes to go with Zeppoli’s namesake doughnuts for dessert.

Related Maps