Brian Nagele
Allentown, PA, is a city with many nicknames and proud food history. After all, It was once called “Peanut City” because one of its main roads, Hamilton Street, was often thick with peanut shells. Today it’s called “The A,” and that’s the rating the state should give for all the great places to eat in Allentown.
You should know that Allentown is a playground for foodies. With many small family-run businesses, you can try authentic cuisine made with family recipes. Ask for recommendations when you arrive and see about ordering off-menu.
One of three cities in Lehigh County, Allentown, boasts a diverse population, and the local cuisines show that. From Middle Eastern to Mexican, with stops in between, here’s the list of the best restaurants in Allentown, PA!
Best Restaurants Allentown, PA
- Grille 3501
- Copperhead Grille
- Henry’s Salt of the Sea
- The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar
- Union and Finch
- McCall Collective Brewing
- The Vineyard Restaurant
- Lazeez Fresh Mediterranean Grill
- Vivo Italian Kitchen
- Damascus
- Hummus House
- Wert’s Cafe
- Youell’s Oyster House
- Allentown Brew Works
- Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant
- La Bicicleta Arepa Bar
- BRU DADDY’S Brewing Co.
Grille 3501
3501 Broadway, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 706-0100
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Located in the West End on Broadway, Grille 3501 has a sophisticated air to it but avoids being pretentious with a familiar and well-executed blend of Asian, French, and Mediterranean cuisine on offer.
Some stand-out dishes include short ribs on a parmesan risotto with carrots and gravy and chicken dumplings appetizer. Finish the meal with creative desserts like their brown butter pecan blondie.
The restaurant includes a patio and plenty of outdoor seating. It’s a very memorable experience with warm hospitality to top everything off.
Copperhead Grille
1731 Airport Rd, Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: (610) 403-4600
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Originally started by two first cousins, Copperhead Grille offers a sports bar’s facilities showing the latest games with an affordable family-style twist, an upgraded menu, and handcrafted cocktails on Airport Rd.
Stop by for a burger and a few beers to watch the game or visit with a group of friends, family, or co-workers to enjoy their famous chicken fajitas, coconut shrimp with mango and pepper salsa, and blackened fish tacos.
Currently, Copperhead Grille is offering heated outdoor dining and over 50 craft, import, and domestic beer choices.
Henry’s Salt of the Sea
1926 Allen St, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 434-2628
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French cuisine often has a reputation for being stuffy and expensive, but Henry’s Salt of the Sea is a seafood restaurant specializing in French-inspired seafood dishes that don’t break the bank. This restaurant is as accessible for first dates as it is for treating yourself to a well-cooked meal.
If you’re unsure of where to start, try the crowd favorites: broiled scallops, crab cakes or their homemade soup of the day.
Thanks to its location close to the West End theatre district between Allen St and North Lafayette, enjoy dinner and a show with plenty of parking available near the Civic Theater.
The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar
645 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 433-3535
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Situated downtown in Allentown between the Liberty Bell museum and the art walk, the Hamilton Kitchen & Bar seeks to revisit the public house atmosphere where visiting tourists and locals come together over a good meal.
Their menu features seasonal American cuisine like salmon, pasta, and farro salad, plus specially designed Thanksgiving and New Year menus to enjoy fabulous holiday food without cooking.
Enhance your meal with classically inspired cocktails by professional mixologists surrounded by reclaimed wood and neutral tones.
Union and Finch
1528 Union St, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 432-1522
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This neighborhood lunch and dinner restaurant features an extensive beer selection and popular menu items like crab cakes, steak frites, and vegetarian meatloaf.
People with dietary restrictions are sure to find something delicious they can enjoy along with the other members of their party.
Situated in the West Walnut neighborhood on Union St, this American bar-style restaurant has good food and drinks at affordable prices. They serve breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner with plenty of outdoor dining options.
McCall Collective Brewing
102 E Susquehanna St, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (610) 973-5403
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A chill brew-pub located on East Susquehanna St, McCall Collective Brewing knows what it’s doing when it comes to ales and meals. This 100% family-owned and operated restaurant located in South Allentown is also Allentown’s first fully female-owned brewery.
Up to 50 people can be seated in their outdoor dining area, and the brew-pub offers beer, wine, and a full kitchen menu to all its patrons.
From snacks like giant soft pretzels to soak up their in-house brewed libations to special nights like clam night or taco night, McCall offers a fun, friendly environment with warm hospitality and cold beer.
The Vineyard Restaurant
605 N Fiot St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone: (610) 867-2441
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If you’re looking for authentic Italian cuisine with an extensive, sweeping menu of options to satisfy any craving or dietary restriction, check out the Vineyard Restaurant located between Long and Fiot St.
They offer large portions at affordable prices of crowd favorites like eggplant parmesan, pasta e fagioli, and a choice of chicken or veal saltimbocca. Arrive early and stay awhile to enjoy a few different options; it may be the only way to decide what to choose.
The Vineyard also has a full bar and an inviting atmosphere for date nights and private meals.
Lazeez Fresh Mediterranean Grill
4666 Broadway, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 351-6897
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Located in a strip mall off Broadway, Lazeez Fresh Mediterranean Grill proves food doesn’t have to be in a fancy restaurant to be tasty.
Lazezz has options for families, get-togethers of coworkers, or just a great place to have lunch and enjoy some Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or Arabic cuisine.
Halal options are available for many of their menu items. Enjoy classic dishes like shawarma, lamb kabobs with tahini sauce, and don’t miss out on their fantastic, creamy, and authentic hummus.
Vivo Italian Kitchen
4558 Crackersport Rd, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (484) 350-3523
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Just off Highway 309 on Crackersport Rd, Vivo Italian Kitchen offers mid-priced lunch and dinner options in large portions with the homestyle taste and recipes favored in Italian kitchens.
The menu boasts many Italian and American favorites like Italian Wedding soup, penne with vodka sauce, clams casino, and traditional tiramisu.
Vivo is a great option for special occasions. Offering reservations and a good atmosphere for celebrating, they can accommodate large groups in their outdoor dining area and indoors.
Damascus
449 N 2nd St, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 432-2036
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One of the best restaurants in Allentown, PA isn’t one you’ll find easily marked downtown. It’s a beautiful Middle Eastern restaurant aptly named Damascus with vegan and Halal options. To find it, you’ll need to look a little off the beaten path across Liberty St from Sheridan Elementary School.
The interior isn’t fancy, but that’s okay because the food will be authentic and home-cooked, giving a true taste of what Middle Eastern food can be.
The atmosphere makes you feel like part of the community while enjoying dishes like Kibbe Nayyeh on Friday and Saturday night or lamb kabob and hummus with housemade pita.
Hummus House
1502 W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18102
Phone: (610) 434-8800
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Enjoying a vegetarian or vegan diet shouldn’t preclude you from enjoying some of the great Allentown restaurants. Hummus House, situated on the corner between Franklin Park and West Park on West Chew St, has plenty of options to make omnivores and vegetarians happy.
In a cute little house with greenery all around, reminding Allentown that there is yet another proper Middle Eastern restaurant available to them.
Try the hummus and falafel sandwich in their easy-going atmosphere or the vegetarian grilled panini.
Wert’s Cafe
515 N 18th St, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 439-0951
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Whether you live here and want a local family-owned restaurant or you’re grabbing a meal on your way through Allentown, Wert’s Cafe will surprise you with its full bar, great burgers, and homemade desserts.
The positioning of this restaurant is convenient, and it stands out amongst all the other restaurants in the area. After seeing a show in the West End theatre district, Wert’s is only a few blocks away from the Citadel Theater on North 18th Street.
If you’re close by on a Monday, stop in for their Monday Hamburger Special or just fill up on their famous onion rings that you don’t want to miss.
Youell’s Oyster House
2249 Walnut St, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 439-1203
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Located on the edge of Hamilton Park is a steakhouse that offers plenty of options for fancy dinners as part of a celebration or a treat for date night. Like many other steakhouses, Youell’s Oyster House is a higher-priced restaurant but no more than one would expect to pay for quality.
At the same time, since 1895, they have been delivering sea-to-table dishes, and that history shows in their warm hospitality and offerings.
There are plenty of very affordable options on Youell’s menu. You can enjoy “buck-a-shuck” oysters on select nights that are quick to be delivered to the table, alongside paella, stuffed mushrooms, and delicious homemade desserts like tasty carrot cake.
Allentown Brew Works
812 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 433-7777
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If you’re visiting the Hamilton district in Allentown, you’ll have a choice of many different restaurants, and Allentown Brew Works between 8th St and Hamilton St should be the first stop if you’re looking for a Gastropub.
They have an impressive building with five floors and 100% renewable energy sources run the family-owned facility and, alongside its large selection of beer, also serves Reuben sandwiches and delicious french dip sandwiches.
Consider a stop here before a game or concert at the local PPL center, which is within walking distance.
Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant
2835 Lehigh St, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (484) 656-7277
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Plaza Azteca serves authentic Mexican food in a local atmosphere rather than in a chain restaurant. That devotion shows in freshly made stuffed poblanos, chicken fajitas, and rice and beans that you’ll want to order on their own just for a larger portion.
Sat between Lehigh St and Schantz Rd, this restaurant is affordable and friendly family dining where everyone can order what they like without breaking the bank. For the adults, try the lengthy list of bar drinks, including delicious margaritas and cold coronas.
La Bicicleta Arepa Bar
12 S 8th St, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 871-0809
La Bicicleta Arepa Bar specializes in South American corn-based patties with many different toppings and sauces located across from the Five City Center building.
This is a quick, affordable, and delicious way to spend a lunchtime or early evening meal with friends and family.
If you choose to visit around lunchtime, it’s good to know that local workers also appreciate this South American hotspot, so you may have to wait a bit to grab a table. The wait is worth it, and if you’re visiting from out of town, you can even sit and do some people-watching while your food cooks.
BRU DADDY’S Brewing Co.
732 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
Phone: (610) 351-7600
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BRU DADDY’S Brewing Co. is a great starting point with filling food, tasty beer, and stellar service. If you can’t make it there in person, they offer delivery and take-out as well as delivery of beer state-wide.
If you’re dining indoors, you’ll find it’s a casual atmosphere with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy a selection from their extensive beer menu or their rotating food menu that includes pierogies, wood-fired pizza, and sliders with a flight of fries.
Should it be available when you visit, check out the Surf n’ turf burger, which includes fried shrimp on top of an already incredible cheeseburger.
Final Thoughts
The best restaurants in Allentown, PA, all offer a wide variety of palettes and price points. So, the next time you’re in the area, be sure to make a reservation at one of these spots for a truly wonderful dining experience.
Have you found out where to eat in Allentown? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
