Philly’s food pop-ups are temporary or roaming food experiences that allow chefs to try out new concepts, and food lovers to experience new flavors. To find out where these mobile vendors will be next, you need to follow them on social media. If you’re ready to dive into this moveable feast, here’s where we think you should start:
The first thing that caught my eye about this Venezuelan pop-up are the gluten free empanadas. But they also serve juices and flanes all across the city’s farmers markets, as if the perfectly-browned hand pies made with corn flour weren’t enough.
These pastelillos are a must try in the pop-up game! Chef Amaryllis Rivera-Nassar describes them as Puerto Rican-style turnovers, with fillings like guava BBQ pork and truffle mushroom with cheese.
This recurring pop-up at Tattooed Mom’s makes plant-based Hawaiian dishes like the to-die-for vegan musubi. These handheld rice and vegan spam snacks are wrapped in seaweed and sell out fast, so get to their events early to snag one!
This small batch and vegan food project slings creative, plant-based dishes like BBQ “chicken” potato chip nachos. Also, check out their website for infused sunflower oils!
This pasta-forward pop-up just finished a residency at the Lucky Well Incubator, a restaurant built around rotating collaborations with chefs. Keep an eye out to see what’s next, if it's anything like their short rib ragu with ravioli, I’m in!
Catch some Peruvian bites at Manny’s, a newer vendor who just came onto the scene late last year. The chef behind this pop-up wants to highlight the flavors of his Peruvian hometown, after studying culinary arts there and working in local kitchens. The butifarra sandwich looks amazing.
A plate of food from Manny's. (Couresty of Manny's Philly)
This pizza-focused pop-up pushes past typical flavors with items like a pistachio pesto, burrata, and mortadella pie. Viraj Thomas is behind these creative recipes.
The self described “pop-up queen,” Lynh Pham, makes Vietnamese cuisine as a “fake food truck.” Check out her range of dishes, like the lemongrass beef Vietnamese hoagie, or rice paper pork dumplings with peanut sauce. Yum!
Stay tuned for another pop-up guide in the coming weeks. Next time, we’ll have the dessert remix!
