Curious about Russian food? Chaikhana Uzbekistan in Northeast Philly is a good choice for the adventurous diner. Featuring cuisine from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian province of the former Soviet Union, Chaikhana offers an assortment of traditional foods designed to remind area expatriates of home. Thankfully the rest of us can get a “taste of home” too.
We would never have found Chaikhana Uzbekistan if it wasn’t for our Russian culinary guide Denis, who gave us the 411 on good Russian food in Philly. Having emigrated from Ukraine and now living in the area, we couldn’t have found a better source. It doesn’t hurt that his family used to run a restaurant just a few blocks away, either.
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What do you get when you combine the best parts of a diner and a cool club? Spring Garden’s Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge. That’s what.
A long time favorite, The Silk City Diner was reopened in June after falling on hard times. Owner Mark Bee took some of the best parts of the original, added a heavy dose of renovation and a sprinkle of the magic that made his first project great (Northern Liberties’ North 3rd) to produce a hipster hot spot that everyone will enjoy. Any questions? Silk Citys MySpace page says it all.
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Indian lunch buffets can offer some of the best food around, so in honor of Diwali we set out to sample some of the better Indian lunch buffets in Philadelphia to find our favorite. With Tushar at the helm (God save us), we’ve chosen a few promising candidates to investigate.
“What’s Diwali?” Trust me, don’t ask. Answers vary, so be satisfied with learning more about Diwali at Wikipedia.
Continue reading about Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup: Episode # 1
If you’re hot for a good, quick lunch in Center City, then you may want to give Mama’s Vegetarian a try. Located near Rittenhouse Square, Mama’s offers a limited menu of kosher vegetarian foods. By the looks of the people that make up the constant flow of traffic, you don’t have to be Jewish or vegetarian to enjoy this food.
Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat may not be obscure, but this Northern Liberties’ standard offers an eclectic menu, rustic atmosphere and great service. Situated on the corner of North 4th and Brown Streets, Honey’s serves breakfast and lunch all day and bills itself as a blend of Jewish and Southern food. All I know is that it’s pretty damn good.
Continue reading about NoLib’s Brunch Bonanza: Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat
Tucked among the storefronts, jewelry designers and diamond merchants of Philly’s Jewelers’ Row, Tampopo 2 offers Pan Asian food perfect for lunch or dinner. Spawned from a successful sister restaurant located on South 21st street, Tampopo 2 offers primarily Japanese and Korean food in a clean, comfortable environment.
After a few aborted attempts to find this inconspicuous spot, Tushar and I stumbled into Tampopo 2 on a recent weekday afternoon for lunch. Once seated, we found the menu offers variety without being overwhelming. Check out Tampopo 2’s Menu Here Thankfully, our server was well prepared to fill in the blanks when menu descriptions and our knowledge came up short. - Oh yeah, and when Tushar wanted to play “Grill the Food Server.”
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Looking for some fresh, delicately flavored Chinese food in Philly? Queen Village’s Mustard Greens just may fit the bill. Located on 2nd Street, Mustard Greens offers a clean, contemporary atmosphere just steps away from the hustle and bustle of South Street.
On a recent Friday evening, three of us were looking for a quick, unplanned meal when we thought of Mustard Greens. Although parking in the area can sometimes be difficult, luck presented us with a spot just steps from the front door.
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If you’re searching for a dose of Caribbean flavor, we’ve found a great spot for you, Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe. Situated in a bustling area of West Philly, Brown Sugar serves a wide variety of foods from Trinidad, as well as baked items and assorted treats. Tushar stumbled into this cross between a retail bakery and restaurant some time ago, while I became familiar with Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe through a video posted by Philadelphia Weekly’s Liz Spikol.
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There are a lot of good breakfast places in Philadelphia and today I visited one of them, South Philly’s Morning Glory
Diner. I won’t argue that this spot is better known than some (awards cover the front door like a rash), but I think that the menu offers a good blend of traditional and California-style favorites (think scrapple + breakfast burrito).
Continue reading about Breakfast in Bella Vista: Morning Glory Diner
For those less adventurous diners, South Philly’s Pho Hoa is an easy 
introduction to Vietnamese food. Whether you’re looking to stretch your culinary boundaries, or you’re restaurant choices are limited by a friend or family member that won’t deviate from the tried and true, this place is for you.
I’ll be the first to admit that PhillyFoodGuys is not a big fan 
of chains (homogenation, lack of character, etc…, but we keep an open mind in looking for restaurants that offer fun and unique experiences, even if it’s for some looking to expand their gastronomic frontiers.
Continue reading about Vietnamese Food 101: South Philly’s Pho Hoa
