Grandma’s Philly

Grandma’s Philly: Thai Tapas With Real Fire in Midtown Village

The name suggests doilies; the food suggests otherwise. Grandma’s Philly runs on the recipes Chef Locket learned at her grandmother’s side in Thailand, fired up and portioned as small plates — the state’s first Thai tapas concept, built for tables that want to try everything and argue about favorites over cocktails.

The Story

Chef Locket cooks from memory, not from a binder: the menu is her childhood in Thailand, translated for sharing. The team behind the beloved South Philly Thai and Lao kitchen Ratchada brought the idea to Midtown Village, and the small-plates format was the twist — a Thai menu you graze through the way you would tapas, with a cocktail list and happy hour to match. The kitchen’s foundation is a shortlist of herbs Locket calls grandma’s garden: Thai basil, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, peppercorn and Thai chili.

What to Order

Grandma’s Meatballs — pork rolled with lemongrass, ginger and kaffir lime — are the calling card, with Crying Grandma, a grilled skirt steak in tamarind sauce, close behind. The panang curry has serious local fans, the spicy garlic eggplant with tofu converts skeptics, and pineapple fried rice arrives studded with cashews and pork floss. Classics like papaya salad, basil chicken and drunken noodles hold the center, Northern Thai specialties reward the curious, and mango sticky rice closes things properly. Midweek regulars know about the whole-fried-fish special.

The Space

Bright and easygoing: white leather banquettes, wooden tables, greenery hanging overhead and playful retro touches after dark. It reads more lounge than temple of gastronomy — which is exactly the point.

Who It’s For

Spice chasers, groups who order for the middle of the table, Center City workers on a flavorful lunch break and anyone bored of one-plate-per-person dining.

Good to Know

Do I need a reservation? Not usually for lunch; evenings and weekends book ahead for groups.

How spicy does it get? As spicy as you ask — heat levels are adjustable, and the kitchen takes requests seriously.

What is the must-try dish? Grandma’s Meatballs and the panang curry, with Crying Grandma steak for the table.

Is it vegetarian-friendly? Yes — the garlic eggplant with tofu is a standout, and many plates adapt easily.

Is there takeout? Yes — pickup and all the major delivery apps, and the curries travel well.

Opening hours