The Most Fun Dinner Spots In Philadelphia

Unlike other Italian places in Philly, this one serves an impressive meal and a story—the one about the region of Italy that inspired that night’s dishes. The five-course, $115 tasting menu features mostly pasta, but there are always guest stars, too, like the namesake buttery scampi or a luscious caesar toast. Head to the Queen Village spot to reignite your love affair with lasagna, admire framed photos of the chef's cat, and leave knowing the secret to the best tortellini in Bologna.

It feels insane that you don't need a passport to have the rose water hand bath, belly dancing, and fall-off-the-bone spicy chicken experience at Marrakesh. Just off South Street, the Moroccan spot is full of low, colorful couches, decorative lanterns, and engraved gold tables straight from a market in Marrakesh. There's a prix-fixe menu ($40 per person) with things like spicy cumin chicken, eggplant and carrot salads, and Moroccan pastries that are ideal for big groups. Come to this classic BYOB for the ultimate escape—no airplane necessary.

K Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot has locations in South Philly, the Northeast, and near Franklin Mills, all of which are usually packed with friends dipping fish cakes into spicy Szechuan broth and trying not to burn bulgogi beef. But the busiest and most energetic location is the one on Oregon Ave. The place doubles as a sports bar for the grilling-obsessed, and wait times can be over an hour. But once you're in, you and your friends can go wild with bubbling broths, DIY sizzled meats, and a mango Long Island iced tea.

Housed in an old Jiffy Lube, this Spring Garden retro cantina has both Chinese options like cold crab noodles tossed in a soy vinaigrette and Mexican staples like tacos, carne asada fries, and elote. While the quesabirria tacos, Tijuana street dogs, and chilaquiles may sound tempting, go for the fish tacos or stick to the Chinese dishes (our favorite is the pork belly bao bun). Bring a group of friends to Happy Hour for a round of tacos and a few tequila-based cocktails.

This all-day American spot in Fishtown is fun no matter what time of day you're here. In addition to Princess Diana posters and toilet seats designed with Peanut Chews, there are light, syrup-slicked stacks of pancakes in the morning, reliable sandwiches for lunch, some of the city's best cocktails all day, and a great burger at night. It’s that rare place that works for everything from a low-key morning to a big night out. And that’s why we (and most of the city) keep coming back.

Apart from the neon-lit pig above the kitchen and art on the walls, this laidback Filipino BYOB in Bella Vista is always filled with groups of friends and dates. So don't show up without a reservation. People come in droves for the unbreaded fried chicken with a soy vinegar sauce, pancit bihon that perfectly balances heat and citrus, and a very good ube sundae. Tabachoy also has a community fridge, in case you sprinted here after securing a reservation and forgot your six-pack.

There's a 90% chance of sh*tshow at this Mexican restaurant in Rittenhouse. It's where coworkers down pitchers of mango-pineapple margarita margaritas after a day of emails and groups of friends celebrate birthdays with shrimp tacos on soft flour tortillas. Imagine a cookout if it were taking place inside. That's the energy.

Thanks to it's glam seafood towers, buttery, Frenchy mains, and just a little-too-loud soundtrack, this Rittenhouse restaurant works well for a martini-fueled group dinner. Like its sister restaurant, Her Place Supper Club, it’s a tough reservation to get. But a blow-out meal here is worth the hassle. Especially because they make technically impressive food without any of the self-seriousness that usually comes with it.

So, no, Casablanca near Passyunk Avenue is not brought to you by the people behind Marrakesh. There are similar, obsession-worthy tasting menus, the same warm, dinner party-like atmosphere, and they both look like they were designed by someone who went to interior design school in North Africa. But only at Casablanca can you go for their vegetable salad, spicy chicken, and sweet baklava $30 tasting menu and throw in extras like creamy hummus and chicken shawarma over rice. And there's a set vegan menu option as well. It works for an exciting date where you’ll share a couple bottles and want to order everything in sight (you should).

Pearl & Mary is a Midtown Village oyster bar that joins the fleet of Schulson spots in the area (like Sampan and Double Knot), but it feels more New Orleans than Center City. You’ll find couples and groups of friends swigging martinis and passing platters of clams casino and tuna crudo at the tables in the back, but the best spot in the house is at the bar up front, sampling snow crab, shrimp cocktail, and oysters from the Royal Tower.

Illata is about to become your new favorite BYOB. This modern American spot in Filter Square is intimate feeling—they only have 20-ish seats, including a bar area that's reserved for walk-ins. The small menu of seasonal seafood and produce is full of surprises. Get here for the marinated mussels in miso chili oil and a brown butter tart we’ll forever be fantasizing about. Almost every dish costs less than $30, so it’s a reasonable choice for a group. You can and should order the entire menu. What a feeling.

This BYOB noodle house in Bella Vista has walls covered in old rugs, Cambodian rock playing, and Southeast Asian dishes that we think about more than the Eagles winning the Super Bowl. The menu blends classics like papaya salad with more inventive dishes like head-on soft shell shrimp with fish sauce caramel. It’s all very good—you won’t find a menu like this anywhere else in Philly (or the country, for that matter).

The former Bella Vista BYOB got a Fishtown makeover that includes cocktails and a 100+ person dining room with 14-foot palm trees. The Thai curries, noodles, and dumplings here still hit hard—but now there are more "look at me" dishes. Think giant river prawns and mounds of shaved ice topped with banana cream. If you want somewhere that feels like a big deal but won't put you to sleep, this is a good choice.