You Can Find the Best Restaurant in America in Philadelphia

The best eats in America can be found in one of the country’s most historic cities.

Sure, New York and Los Angeles have some good restaurants, but the best restaurant in the entire United States can be found right in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia restaurant, Zahav, focusing on traditional Israeli cuisine in a casual and modern atmosphere, has won the James Beard Award for outstanding restaurant, according to CNN.

The James Beard Award is by far one of the most prestigious awards in the food industry, so you can safely assume that you can get a truly excellent meal at Zahav. According to Lancaster Online, the James Beard Foundation chose the restaurant due to its “consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, service, and operations.”

The restaurant originally opened in 2008 in Philadelphia’s Society Hill neighborhood and has won other James Beard acclamations over the years, according to Lancaster Online, including Rising Star Chef of the Year for Chef Camille Cogswell in 2018 and Chef of the Year for Chef Michael Solomonov in 2017. Solomonov co-authored a cookbook, entitled "Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking," which also won the James Beard award for Cookbook of the Year in 2016, according to the Philly Voice.

While many Philadelphia restaurants made it into the semi-finals this year, Zahav was the only one to come out with an award (but an important award nonetheless), according to the Philly Voice. Some other notable wins in other cities include Frenchette in New York City for Best New Restaurant, Greg Wade from Publican Quality Bread in Chicago won Outstanding Baker, Ashley Christensen from Poole’s Diner in Raleigh, North Carolina won Outstanding Chef, and Bar Agricole in San Francisco won Outstanding Bar Program, according to Forbes.

Philadelphia’s food scene has been blossoming in recent years, with plenty of amazing places to eat ranging from casual sandwich places to fancy brunch spots.