Beautiful space, ridiculously great food, lovely staff, anime on the tvs, what more could you want?…read more Pro tip: come on Monday for unlimited happy hour!! Should it be called Happy Day? Idk but it was great. I ordered the Yuzu Margarita, the pork gyoza, a tuna roll, miso soup, spicy karaage, and ramen! I was so full and happy with everything that I ate. Fantastic--no notes!! Special shout out to Christine for being a great server!

Located at the old Abbaye Restaurant. I like how they've turned it around into a very warm and…read morecomfortable restaurant/bar. Nice menu. Good happy hour options. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Very nice addition this neighbourhood. Street parking can be a challenge here.

We have been met with perfection. I can leave this planet…read moreone day happy in knowing I have had The...Best. Royal's announcement on they starting to take reservations, a few months ago, immediately had me in stalker mode. I set a calendar reminder, waited for the day, hopped on & bang- success!! Another Philly weekend awaited, Yea! We arrived at Royal (apologies on review delay, circa April 11), for our 8:30pm high top table reservation. We were greeted and seated immediately- right side corner table ready. It's very dim in Royal, small but mobile and a bit noisy. Nothing unexpected. Skating over service, but they are so noteworthy. Our server was attentive, kind and helpful. They HUSSLE here to bus and clear tables. Timing for patrons arriving and being sat was like it was scripted, it was so flawless. No one waiting at the entrance corridor on arrival. Machine precision. Now, our meal- I'm drooling in my daydreams over it. We tried many plates & loved the portion size to be able to do so. The chicken wings- crisp, thick golden fried and tender. The toro with caviar- silk. A touch of brine, a melt in your mouth pleasure. The grilled octopus had an unassuming spice, mellow char and just the right consistency of chew. My husband ordered a surprise- I was scared. Fish heads. WTF, ok here we go. The plate came- heads on heads, quite the portion. This fish- first bite down, intimidation gone. This is one of the best things we've ever eaten. Succulent, moist fall apart whitefish. Didn't even taste like it was battered, no thickness to the breading. It tasted fried but so clean it didn't make sense how good it was. I don't have words. And now we get to the sushi- and I go completely mute.... There is no description worthy here. We had the Dragon Roll and the Spicy Crab Tempura roll. Can we call them the "Die and gone to heaven rolls". Fall apart fresh. Quality. Restrained, but pronounced. Pure. Insane. How can you describe food you will always remember. Except in having passion and a simple happy heart. This is what Royal gave us- in a sushi roll and a fish head. Thanks Jesse and team- simply the best!

I've always loved the Queen Village area, so I already liked the location of Royal Izakaya going…read morein. One thing though, the restaurant was surprisingly hard to find because there really isn't much signage on the entrance/door. But there's a paper lantern outside, so if you see that, you're in the right place. I had really high expectations coming here and thankfully I wasn't disappointed, although nothing completely blew me away except for the Aka Taka roll. The chirashi bowl was solid overall and had good quality cuts of fish for $52. Everything tasted fresh and balanced, but next time I think I'd personally just order the sakedon instead. The chasu bao also wasn't really worth the $14 in my opinion. It was still good, just not something memorable or mind blowing. Same with the wagyu steak, for $38, it honestly just tasted like a really good steak, and the portion was a little smaller than I expected. My favorite appetizer was definitely the miso eggplant. Such a unique combination of flavors and the eggplant was cooked incredibly soft and well. It almost tasted like a sweet potato with the miso on top, and I would absolutely order it again. But the standout of the night was easily the Aka Taka roll. For a $27 roll, I had very high expectations and somehow they were all met. The roll was stuffed with different cuts of tuna that were unbelievably soft and buttery, and there was this crunch in the middle, maybe daikon? Whatever it was, it added the perfect texture. Honestly, it's something I'd go back just for.

I came back and tried the spicy tan tan , what a joke this place is. The broth had no flavor and…read morechashu was rubbery and was undercooked , the broth didn't have much in it and it was just noodles and one piece of bok choy , no ramen eggs etc . I wouldn't mind the tiny bowl for $23 if it tasted good and authentic but it definitely did not taste good and I left half of it untouched. I give up with this place , will try to find another Japanese place elsewhere Service is decent and ambiance is good but food is the most important

Was offered a variety of of seats and chose the window so I could people watch while I ate. The…read morevibe is clean and cool. The menu has a lot of options but I selected the Mayu Tonkotsu. The bowl was brought less than 5 minutes later. The broth was very very hot. Flavor was delicious, creamy with a garlic flavor. Noodles were thinning than I'm used to, but cooked well. Quail eggs were listed as part of the dish, though I was expecting a jammy egg, as they're said to be soft boiled on the menu. Unfortunately my eggs were hard boiled. Additionally, the chashu was very fatty. Hilariously, I had a conversation with a colleague earlier in the day about what our last meals would be if we got to pick. When I looked at the magazine opened right next to my seat, I just happened to see that same question! How bizarre.

Zhu is a solid place for fries in Chinatown, especially if you're looking for a hangout spot after…read moremidnight. I love that they offer a variety of menu items, ranging from skewers to noodle soups and even dumplings. So far, I'm the biggest fan of their fries, but their noodle soup was also pretty good. Vegans, you might want to avoid ordering the "mushroom" order from the izakaya menu since the portion is far too small for the price point. For those who aren't fans of loud places, this isn't a spot for you. Large groups tend to hang here for some card games (each table gets a deck, I believe), so it can be pretty noisy. Service here is adequate, considering there seems to only be one dude who mans the front while the wife/woman handles all the kitchen matters.

For my first review of 2025 I start at Z and give it up to a hole-in-the-wall Chinatown Izakaya…read morewith rustic charm. For my friends final Philly hurrah before moving cross-country she was nostalgic for a Chinatown visit and especially wanted to try this restaurant that she only had a drink in so far. So we passed by the entrance motorcycles, walked through the curtain, and were transported to the type of hole-in-the-wall Izakaya that you might come across in rural China. I only give it four stars because things like the milk crate stools that we sat on might be a little too hole-in-the-wall for most. But they also have some roomy booths and I appreciated the overall aesthetic of the place. I also loved that the bathrooms were filled with movies posted for films directed by the likes of Ang Lee, John Woo, and Wong Kar-Wai. For drinks they do have a reasonably priced assortment of sake, soju, and other libations. But when you see it on the menu you order a harder-to-find Chinese beer, and Snow was a pretty damn good one! Food was very reasonably priced for what you got, especially the skewers which ranged from $1.50 for chicken or squid, to $6 for grilled mackerel or roast pork. For around $10 I was enjoying lamb, chicken hearts & gizzards, squid, shrimp, and bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms. They spice skewers to your heat preference and the medium was delectably fire! We also enjoyed shrimp and pork dumplings. Whewn it comes to reasonably priced good food and decently priced drinks Zhi is a perfect addition to Chinatown.

Izakaya 68 on Shawan Road absolutely nails the feel of a real Japanese Izakaya. The atmosphere is…read morewarm, lively, and authentic--exactly what you'd expect if you stepped into a neighborhood spot in Japan. One of the highlights (especially for families) is the robot cat servers. They're a hit with everyone at the table, from kids to adults, and they genuinely add to the fun without feeling gimmicky. The food is excellent and checks all the Izakaya boxes: yakitori, gyoza, and my personal favorite--takoyaki--are all done right. On top of that, they also offer sushi, ramen, and full entrée dishes, so there's something for every appetite. Drink options are just as solid, with Japanese sodas, green tea, and a good selection of Japanese alcoholic beverages. This is a great spot for the whole family and an especially awesome place to host a birthday dinner for teens. We brought a 13- and 14-year-old group, and it was a perfect balance of fun, great food, and a relaxed environment. Highly recommended if you want good Japanese food and a memorable experience.

We happened to be in the area and really stopped in on a whim…read more The place is very well decorated inside and reminds me of ramen shops and festival booths for a night market. My only complaint is that all of the ramen broth is pork as I would have loved to have some ramen but I have a pork allergy. That said, the udon broth was very tasty and had a clean but bold flavor. It is probably one of my favorite broths I've had. You use the QR code on the table to order and the robot brings you your food. Our server also helped put stuff on our table from the robot. It's a very cute robot and sings about people being in the way as well as your table number. Everything we had was cooked well or assembled great. I really want to come back and try some of their other sushi rolls. The salmon belly was torched just right and the mayo complimented it well. The yellowtail was unique and the sesame paired well with it along with the pepper. I wasn't a big fan of the beef skewer because it was a bit sweet. The inari sushi has spicy mayo in it and I enjoyed it. The shumai stays hot for a while so just be careful. The green tea stayed warm throughout our date and was nice and hot when it first came out. The prices are incredibly reasonable and I felt the fish was very fresh. Our server answered all of our questions, which is how I ended up with udon instead of ramen. My spouse said his curry was delicious and he devoured it.

Double knot is such a wonderful dining experience. Our group had the tasting menu, a selection of…read morebasically every section of the menu and dessert. We were seated downstairs. It feels like a converted cellar lit with candles, very vibey and romantic. Only thing I would say is it's pretty dark so if you have bad eyes it makes it hard to keep reading the menu to make your selections, so preview it off you know you are doing the tasting menu. The food was really good, and everything was presented well. The service was outstanding, the staff was attentive professional, and very patient. Stand out dish was grilled scallops. My table loved the fried rice. Enjoy your meal!!

We went to happy hour at Double Knot and had the best time. The drinks and food were amazing from…read morestart to finish. I ordered the Butterfly cocktail and another pink cocktail whose name I can't remember, but both were delicious. For food, we ordered sushi, chicken bao, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and beef. Everything was excellent, but the Brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious and definitely one of the highlights for us. Our bartender was outstanding and really made the experience even better. The place itself is beautiful, quiet without feeling dead, has great music, and such a good vibe overall. Between the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service, this was an amazing experience and I'd absolutely go back.

We've been enjoying sushi here for years (one of their early customers). We had a celebration of…read morelife here, and it could not have been any better. The food, as always, was wonderful, and the service top notch. Quiet time to celebrate, eat great food, and make a wonderful day. Easy to enjoy meals here, but just about perfect for our party. Every guest loved the food, the service, and the setting. A few guests who've never been here now insist they will be back.

Best sushi in the area. Cutest spot ever and wonderful service. The vibes are 10/10 here it's sort…read moreof moody and aesthetic with nice decor. Feels high end without being over the top. The spicy tuna is to die for. And we are obsessed with the Brussels sprouts .... I'm not big on veggies or Brussels but I can't say enough about how dang good they were. Shout out to GREG the owner for being the greatest and so sweet and kind. This is definitely a hidden gem on the Philly suburbs. Run here don't walk ! They offer sushi classes which I highly recommend as well. Couldn't be a more fun experience. Thank you for the best night. Truly obsessed with this place.

The ambiance of the restaurant is really nice for dinner time. It's dimly lit, while still having…read moreenough lighting at the tables. The music has been great all night. Think Mariah the Scientist type music. It's also not too loud so you can hear the people next to you. Service was quite slow at first but the staff did a nice job of assisting each other. Our food came out quickly though when we did eventually place our orders! The food was really good! I got the Teriyaki Salmon bento box. And it came just as expected:) We had a few issues at our tables with dirty glasses and things in our water (picture included of thing in water)

Great happy hour - even on Sundays! Enjoyed grabbing some tasty yakitori and other bites before…read morecatching a show at the convention center. Service was quick and there was plenty of seating too! I would definitely go back for the HH.

After many months of intending to visit, we finally dropped in at Izzy's for an early dinner on a…read moreThursday night. This cocktail and handroll spot might be one you miss if you are just driving by and not in the local Ardmore scene, and that would be a catastrophe, as it is unique and delicious. This bar has impeccable Japanese ambience with high, light wood ceilings and a quiet atmosphere. It offers exclusively high-top table and bar seating, but still feels elevated. This is one of the best sake menus I have seen in the area, including domestic production, and also offers Japanese beers and a very delicious cocktail list featuring sake-forward offerings. Sake served generously with the cedar box tradition. Specials are available daily and warm food from the menu seems to be prepared next door at Ripplewood (same ownership). Handrolls were bright and fresh using clearly high quality, fresh ingredients. We also enjoyed a Branzino collar. We'll definitely be back, and will try to be early again to get good seating (spots fill fast, as you'd expect!)

An easy contender for the best bar & restaurant in Ardmore!…read more From the first moment that I stumbled upon it on the way to a dinner and just had to grab test cocktail, to the most recent time where I splurged on all the sushi and bao bun noms; Izzy's has been a place that never disappoints! It's called Izzy's because at its core it's a casual Izakaya where you can enjoy sushi, bao, drinks, and more without even needing a reservation (https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2025/05/28/izzys-cocktail-bar-izakaya-ardmore/) four nights a week. But its all a passion project from the Ripplewood team that does all that with a good fusion twist that yields very little confusion. Your old fashioned might come with an aged dark rum instead of a whiskey, your salmon hand roll might be the perfect lox bagel without the bagel, and your bao bun might come birria taco style, and all of the above are absolute serendipity! The menu does shift regularly enough to the point where you'll find at least one new favorite among old staple with each visit, and you also want to be prepared to find out about specials and get spot-on recommendations from the welcoming staff. For cocktails I've immensely enjoyed their versions of dark & stormy's, olde fashioned's, the Last Word (https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2025/06/19/izzys-ardmore-last-word/), and then some. But they also have a weel rounded selection of Japanese whiskeys, and you best believe that they have Hitachino Nest beer! For food I've enjoyed the following; Salmon Philly Handroll - The perfect lox bagel without the bagel comes with sushi grade salmon, creme fraiche, and everything bagel spice in a seaweed wrap. Hokkaido Scallop Handroll - the perfect buttery scallops with an umami bomb speak for themselves! Miso Soup - You haven't had miso soup until you had this freshmaker version that perfectly serves two. Hands down the best version I've ever had! Nigiri - All the nigiri, all of it is good! Spicy Cucumbers - the perfect chilled vegetable to share with the table with a bit of spice and flavor that rivals my belove Han Dynasty and Dan Dan versions! Birria Bao Buns - Somehow the best queso free birria I've had might not come with a taco?! My favorite seat is the window booth that overlooks all of downtown Ardmore. But my second favorite is standing so I can play a free game of pinball!

First time here. Actually, first time for Ramen ever. Great service and the food was awesome.read more

Really enjoyed the food, so different, so good. Our server…read morestood by with answers to our questions about the menu and we made the right choices.