7 Philly Restaurants Doing All the Right Things With Raw Fish
The wild world of raw fish in Philly — besides, you know, sushi.
Kinilaw at Perla
When it’s this hot and humid outside, we only want to eat food that hasn’t been anywhere near a frying pan or a hot oven — but Philly’s best raw fish dishes are here to save high summer. Ceviche, crudo, poke, tuna tartare, and others will keep you fed and refreshed without making you sweat or weighing you down. Here are some of our favorite raw fish dishes and the places you can get them in Philly.
Courtesy of Alma de Cuba | Photo by Leah Sprague
Tiradito
Alma de Cuba, Rittenhouse
This Peruvian cousin of ceviche features slices of raw fish dressed right before serving (as opposed to cube-shaped cuts and a longer marinade typical to ceviche). Get it at Alma de Cuba with yellowtail, sweet potato chayote salpicon, aji Amarillo peppers, and passionfruit vinaigrette.
Poi Dog | Facebook
Poke
Poi Dog, Rittenhouse
One of the first places to serve poke in Philly still does it best, with sashimi-grade yellowfin tuna brought fresh to the shop each morning. Get it served with shoyu, sweet onion and macadamia nuts or spicy sriracha mayo and masago.
Kinilaw
Perla, East Passyunk
Lou Boquila’s BYO is the city’s source for this Filipino take on ceviche. Theirs features raw scallops in an avocado herb vinaigrette with serrano peppers and shisho.
Vista Peru | Facebook
Peruvian Ceviche
Vista Peru, Old City
There’s a whole section of the menu devoted to Peru’s unofficial dish at Vista Peru, with seafood from octopus to shrimp taking center stage. But the gorgeous Cebiche Vista Peru, made with lobster, octopus, and fish fillet, is our favorite.
Blue Corn | Facebook
Mexican Ceviche
Blue Corn, Italian Market
Among the tacos, huaraches, and tortas on Blue Corn’s menu is Best of Philly-worthy – octopus tossed with pico de gallo, avocado, olive oil and their homemade vinagre de bruja.
Vernick Food & Drink | Facebook
Crudo
Vernick Food & Drink, Rittenhouse
With an entire section of the menu devoted to raw seafood from freshly-shucked oysters to sea urchin, Vernick is at the top of the city’s crudo game. Try the fluke crudo with key lime, coconut and habanero oil.
Photo courtesy of Moshulu
Tuna Dip
Nunu, Fishtown
Everything you love about spicy tuna sushi rolls, but as a dip.
