Restaurants are constantly opening in Philadelphia, but it feels like this fall is a particularly hot season for openings. Between local favorites expanding, two New York-based spots debuting Philly locations, and a whole bunch of long-awaited announcements,
it’s shaping up to be a delicious fall.
Here are eight new spots to get excited about.
Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese
Chef Carolyn Nguyen has cooked at restaurants all over Philly for more than two decades, but this fall she’ll finally have the chance to share her deeply personal relationship with the foods of her two cultures: Louisiana and Vietnam. While Vietnamese cooking in Louisiana has long been influenced by that state’s rich culinary history, the crossover is not a style of food that is common in Philly, despite our rich Vietnamese community. Nguyen aims to change that out of a cozy Center City dining room, where she’ll serve dishes like a seafood noodle soup inspired by Southern seafood boils, salt-and-pepper cornmeal-crusted whole fish, or Hoi An-style chicken with dirty rice and braised collards.
Where: 2015 Walnut Street
When: Wednesday, September 9
Adda
Unapologetic Foods, the restaurant group behind many award-winning New York City restaurants, is expanding to Philly this fall with Adda Philly, a new outpost of the acclaimed Indian restaurant that has popularized butter chicken served tableside and other over-the-top South Asian dishes. The Fishtown location will include new dishes and a live-fire hearth and will bring a relatively rare style of cooking to Philly.
Where: 2021-23 Sansom Street
When: October
Ayat
For a city that loves Middle Eastern food, Philly is sorely lacking Palestinian options, but Ayat plans to change that. Abdul Elenani originally opened Ayat in New York, and announced the expansion to Philly in 2024. After a long renovation at the former Roxy Theatre on Sansom Street in Center City, they’re now planning a fall opening that will bring grilled meat, mujadara, and other Palestinian specialties to Philly. Ayat continued its East Coast expansion streak this summer with a debut location in D.C.
Where: 2021-23 Sansom Street
When: November
Kampar
After a brutal fire that shut Kampar down just a few months into its tenure, this beloved Malaysian bar and restaurant plans to reopen in the same Queen Village space sometime this fall. With a whole new roof and a fresh coat of paint, we can’t wait to get back to chugging Malaysian martinis and eating Ramly burgers at the bar.
Where: 611 South 7th Street
When: Fall
Jean
Following the popularity of Emmett, the team expands the vision by adding a 15-seat fireside parlor upstairs from the current Fishtown restaurant. They’re calling it Jean, and the food will be influenced by the flavors of North Africa and the southern Mediterranean coast. It’ll be prix fixe only, featuring a 12-course menu. Jean sounds cozy, delicious, and perfect for a special night out.
Where: 161 W. Girard Avenue
When: Fall
Field Day
Katie and Danny Childs, the New Jersey minds behind the James Beard Award-winning cookbook, Slow Drinks, are finally bringing their talents to Philly in the form of Field Day, which they’re calling a casual, regional bar. Located at the Cescaphe Ballroom in Northern Liberties, the drinks menu promises the Childs’ signature locally farmed and foraged ingredients, fermented into drinks that are as distinctive and interesting as they are delicious and approachable. The duo consulted on Philly bars Almanac and La Jefa, but Field Day marks their first bona fide Philly project to date. The kitchen will be led by Melissa McGrath, the mind behind Sweet Amali Market & Kitchen, and the menu is going for Pennsylvania Dutch vibes.
Where: 923 N. 2nd Street
When: Fall
Emei
The people of South Philly were delighted when Chinatown stalwart Emei announced plans to bring its mouth-tingling Sichuan cooking to East Passyunk in the former home of old-school pizzeria Marra’s. Though they’re in the process of a major renovation — pizza and mapo tofu require a pretty different kitchen, after all — the hope is to get the restaurant open before the end of the year.
Where: 1734 Passyunk Avenue
When: Late fall
Liquorette
Happy Monday Hospitality, the team behind places like Grace & Proper and Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, is working on opening Liquorette above the Wine Dive location near Rittenhouse Square. It’ll be a bit more high-end than Wine Dive, focusing on technique-driven cocktails and a more luxury vibe. They’re hoping to have it open by the end of the year.
Where: 1534 Sansom Street
When: Late fall
