From coffee to vegan options, these are some of the best women-owned restaurants in town!
It is March, which means it’s officially Women’s History Month! And while there are plenty of ways to celebrate and support the awesome women of Philadelphia one of the easiest ways is to enjoy a scrumptious meal from one of Philly’s many women-owned restaurants. So without further ado, here are 10 wonderful women-owned restaurants to try out in the city right now.
1. Jezabel’s Argentine Café & Bakery, University City
At Jezabel’s you’ll be able to enjoy authentic Argentine pastries and dishes by Chef and owner Jezabel Careaga. Whether you go for a savory empanada or a scrumptious dulce de leche croissant, you’ll be able to get a taste of Careaga’s native home of Argentina with every bite.
Find it at 206-208 S 45th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
2. Bar Bombón, Center City
CEO and founder of vegan mini-chain HipCityVeg, Nicole Marquis owns several locations around Philly. At Bar Bombón, you’ll be able to enjoy authentic Puerto Rican recipes but with a twist. This Latin spot serves plant-based meals made to order and offers options like buffalo cauliflower tacos with avocado, cilantro dressing, black beans, and white onion, Philly steak empanadas and fried sweet plantain chips with aioli and cilantro. Plus, the bar’s hot cocktail menu is still available for those colder spring days where you’ll get to sip your cocktails out of incredibly cute thermoses.
Find it at 133 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
3. Baology, Logan Square
Chef and co-owner Judy Ni runs this casual Taiwanese eatery along with her husband chef Andy Tessier. At Biology you’ll find scrumptious options like potstickers, pork belly buns, wraps and bento boxes inspired by Ni’s family recipes and traditions. Plus, if you’d like to learn how to make these yourself, you can join one of Ni’s cooking classes and learn the secret to recreating her incredible dishes.
Find it at 1829 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
4. Booker’s Restaurant & Bar, West Philadelphia
Spicy mango salmon, seafood mac n’ cheese, oyster platters — These are but some of the dishes you’ll find at Saba Tedla’s Southern-inspired restaurant in West Philly. The place’s name pays homage to Booker Wright, the famous Southern waiter who worked in a whites-only restaurant in 1960s Mississippi while also running his own space that catered to Black customers. If you’d like to further sample Tedla’s cuisine, she’s also the owner of the Mediterranean spot Aksum Cafe.
Find it at 5021 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143.
5. Talula’s Table, Kennett Square
Famous for her farm-to-table cuisine and awesome cheese boards, chef Aimee Olexy owns several spots around the Philadelphia area including Talula’s Garden and The Love. Talula’s Table in Kennett Square is Olexy’s very first restaurant which debuted back in 2007. Here you’ll be able to enjoy some of Olexy’s seasonal dishes like her ricotta gnudi with truffle, Chèvre and kale chips, beef tartare and espresso creme caramel with bourbon vanilla sea salt and hazelnut tuile.
Find it at 102 W State St, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
6. Triple Bottom Brewing, Poplar
Technically not a restaurant, but still definitely worth checking out. With lengthy experience in nonprofits, co-owner Tess Hart is at the helm of this community-driven brewery that has made delivering quality craft beer while also providing equal hiring opportunities and protecting the planet its main mission.
Find it at 915 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
7. The Good King Tavern, Bella Vista
Chloe Grigri founded The Good King Tavern with her father back in 2013. Since then this French Brasserie has been delighting Philadelphians with simple yet authentic recipes from across France all the way from Provence to Alsace. In 2019, Grigri also added in the restaurant’s upstairs wine bar, Le Caveau. This sultry spot was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program and currently offers over 130 wines made from sustainably farmed grapes.
Find it at 614 S 7th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147.
8. Franny Lou’s Porch, Kensington
If you’re looking for a caffeine kick then Franny Lou’s Porch is another great option for you. Created by Blew Kind and named after two influential black women from the Civil Rights movement, Fannie Lou Hamer and Frances E.W. Harper, this cozy Kensington café offers espresso drinks, smoothies and other light bites. At Franny Lou’s all goodies come with a side of activism, creativity and sense of community, making it a catalyst and window for the black community as well as other marginalized ones.
Find it at 2400 Coral St, Philadelphia, PA 19125.
9. Puyero Venezuelan Flavor, Queen Village
Chef Manuela Villasmil is the mastermind behind Puyero’s mouthwatering Venezuelan cuisine. The Queen Village restaurant, which she co-owns with her husband and brother-in-law, specializes in Venezuelan street food dishes like arepas and cachapas that Villasmil carefully crafts using the recipes and skills that she learned from her mother and grandmother in her native Maracaibo.
Find it at 524 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147.
10. Kalaya, Bella Vista
If you’re looking for some award-winning Thai food then you best check out Chef Nok Suntaranon’s Kalaya. Named best new restaurant of 2020 by Esquire, Suntanaron’s restaurant in Bella Vista delivers authentic southern Thai recipes that the chef learned from her mother. The restaurant, which bares the name of the chef’s mother, offers a wide variety of dishes all the way from Tom Yum soup with a Kalaya twist to the adorable Shaw Muang, blue flower-shaped dumplings with ground chicken filling, cucumber, red chili, and cilantro.
Find it at 764 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147.
See also: 8 Exhibits To Check Out In & Around Philadelphia For Women’s History Month
[Featured image: Instagram / @goodkingtavern]