In a City Devoted to Meatballs, These Are the Best
From classic Italian American “gravy houses” to a Thai tapas restaurant, here’s where to find the best meatballs in Philly.
Meatballs from Figo / Photograph by Max Grundzinski
The city of Philadelphia is blessed with many, many meatballs. As a city drenched in red-sauce restaurants, many of our favorite meatballs are the Italian variety: soaked in tomato sauce and just as delicious eaten in a sandwich, on pasta, or alone. But Italian meatballs aren’t the only ones we love. These are the best meatballs in Philadelphia, from classic Italian to vegan versions, and beyond.
Figo, Northern Liberties
Whatever you’re ordering at Figo, always add a side of meatballs. Listed on the antipasto menu, these meatballs are served in a classic housemade marinara which compliments everything from the spicy rigatoni to the herbaceous gnocchi al pesto. 1033 North 2nd Street
Villa Di Roma, Italian Market
When it comes to meatballs, Villa Di Roma is about as classic as it gets. Villa’s are all beef, tender and consistent all the way through. They’re a little smaller than a tennis ball, not overwhelmingly large but ideal for a good sauce-to-meat ratio. You can have them on ravioli or on spaghetti, but we love them straight up, soaking in red “gravy” with a little bread on the side for dipping. 936 South 9th Street
Dad’s Stuffing, South Philly
Dad’s is one of those South Philly places that, if described, sort of sounds fake, but we can assure you it’s very real. Tucked away in a residential part of South Philly, it’s a takeout spot dedicated to things like chicken cutlets, quarts of homemade Italian wedding soup, and other pre-made dishes you can put together and turn into dinner. But they’re particularly famous for their chicken meatballs. They are more tender than you’d expect which makes them perfect for tossing on a salad, adding to a soup, or eating cold right out of the refrigerator with your hands. 1615 West Ritner Street
Little Nonna’s meatballs / Photograph by Jason Varney
Little Nonna’s, Midtown Village
Just like at Nonna’s house, when you order a plate of spaghetti and meatballs you get a mountain of pasta coated in a braised pork marinara, its peaks dusted with fresh parmesan. And sitting on the side of that saucy summit are two gigantic meatballs made from the unofficial Italian trinity of beef, veal and pork. Best of all, they’re stuffed with a gooey fontina cheese. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re craving the nostalgic comfort that comes from classic Italian American food. 1234 Locust Street
Talluto’s, Italian Market
If beef meatballs at home are what you’re after (and whose freezer couldn’t use a couple of meatballs stashed away as a back-up dinner?) then Talluto’s stacked freezer section is where you should go. Their all-beef meatballs come in sauce, fully cooked and frozen, and in a mini quarter-ounce size that’s perfect for soups. 944 South 9th Street
L. Mancuso & Sons, East Passyunk
If you happen to be walking by Mancuso’s, go inside and ask if they have meatballs that day. If they do, they’ll ask you if you want them in a hoagie or just plain, take your pick and watch them spoon perfect, golf-ball-sized beef meatballs straight out of the pot, dripping in tangy, simple red sauce. You could get them on a hoagie, sure, but the best way to eat them is straight out of the container, standing on the street, so the meat and sauce can really shine. 1902 Passyunk Avenue
Beef meatballs at Grandma’s in Philly / Photograph by Casey Robinson
Grandma’s Thai, Midtown Village
When we talk about meatballs in Philly, our minds go straight to the Italian American meatballs served out of our city’s iconic “gravy houses.” But this list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t talk about Grandma’s Thai-style meatballs. They live in the small-plates section of their menu, but they could also live near the soups or in the main dishes section because they’re the perfect accompaniment to any dish. They’re all beef, lightly tangy and served in a sweet Thai sauce with slivered scallion and fried onions. Sure, you could share them, or you could get them with a side of rice and call that dinner. 1304 Walnut Street
Isot Turkish Cuisine, Queen Village
We’re not here to rank meatballs, but if we were, içli köfte, a Turkish style of meatball in which bulgar is pounded into a dough, stuffed with ground lamb, and then fried, would be high on the list. Isot does an excellent version that is a study in texture: crisp on the outside, meaty on the interior, and served with a cool swoosh of yogurt on the plate. 622 South 6th Street
Spaghetti and meatballs at Triangle Tavern / Photograph by Jeffrey Towne
Triangle Tavern, East Passyunk
The meat is right there in the name, but Triangle Tavern actually does an excellent vegan meatball. Pair them with one to four beers, and invite your non-vegan friends as well — this is one of very few places where vegan and beef meatballs live in harmony. 1338 South 10th Street
Murph’s Bar, Fishtown
Murph’s does beef meatballs, as you’d expect from an Irish dive bar making red sauce. They also have an arancini stuffed with cheesesteak meat, which is basically a cheesesteak meatball. They’re pushing the limits of what a meatball can be, and we support that. 202 East Girard Avenue
Cook and Shaker, East Kensington
Cook and Shaker does a vegetarian Italian hoagie, the main attraction of which is an eggplant-based meatball. They cook eggplant til tender, then roll it into balls and fry for a nice crispy exterior that gets doused in sauce, topped with provolone, and stacked onto a hoagie rolls with marinara sauce and broccoli rabe. 2301 East Albert Street
