PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — This week on FYI Philly, we’re kicking off our America 250th celebration with new spots to eat and shop in this special year.
Chef Chance Anies describes Manong as a Filipino Outback Steakhouse, a grill house that celebrates the chain restaurants where his mom worked while he was growing up.
The “family first” restaurant reflects his biracial background with American staples like chicken skewers grilled with banana ketchup barbecue sauce and house-made creamy pasta with American cheese and coconut milk Alfredo sauce.
His riff on a Bloomin’ Onion is made with enoki mushrooms and dubbed The Bloom Shroom.
There are more traditional Filipino dishes too. The Lechon liempo is a whole roasted pork belly.
Manong means elder brother in the Filipino Ilocano language. It’s the big brother to Chance’s first restaurant, Tabachoy, in Queen Village, which he opened more than six years ago as a food cart.
As Philadelphia prepares to welcome the world in 2026, Chance hopes Manong will be a destination, and he hopes diners will walk away having learned a piece of Filipino or Filipino American history.
Manong | Instagram
1833 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19130
Huda Burger is the second location for chef and owner Yehuda Sichel, who opened Huda in Rittenhouse Square in 2020.
The new Fishtown spot has a menu focused on smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries and milkshakes.
The key ingredient is the house made Japanese milk buns that are made with a seeded exterior at the Fishtown location. The bun was the genesis of the idea for the original sandwich spot.
Huda Burger | Facebook | Instagram
1603 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19125
Uchi is a sushi-focused concept that just opened their eighth location in the country, right here in Rittenhouse.
The brand was founded in Austin, Texas in 2003 by Chef Tyson Cole, a James Beard winner for ‘Best Chef Southwest’.
The word ‘uchi’ means ‘house’ in Japanese, referring to the little red house that was the very first Uchi.
The chef and his team present elegant dishes and drinks in an atmosphere that is Asian-inspired, with design touches that pay homage to a Philly sensibility.
A service hallmark of the brand is ‘omakase anywhere’, letting guests enjoy an omakase experience (chef-guided sushi courses) not just at the sushi bar, but anywhere they are seated.
Uchi Philadelphia | Instagram
1620 Sansom Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
La Maison Juane, a new French cafe in Rittenhouse, was opened by real estate agent Zahra Saeed out of her love of travel.
Zahra says that on her frequent trips to France, she found herself in Parisian cafes and hoped to bring that same vibe to Philadelphia.
Last October, she did exactly that, using Rival Bros coffee to craft specialty drinks like the tiramisu latte, which comes with a lady finger and mascarpone cream for dipping.
For tea lovers, you can try the blueberry fleur with a tart, financier, or macaron.
She hopes people feel transported to France when they visit the cafe and enjoy its ambiance.
La Maison Juane | Facebook | Instagram
2204 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
This weekend, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia on Washington Square is kicking off its “52 Weeks Of Firsts, ” a yearlong celebration of Philadelphia firsts.
It was the site of America’s first balloon flight in 1793.
The Athenaeum was founded just over two decades later and it’s now renowned for its architectural archives.
The Athenaeum | Facebook | Instagram
219 S. 6th Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
Delco is sharing its history in a special way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday by creating a committee to help create special experiences that will take guests on a historical journey in one of the earliest building blocks of the country.
Highlights include the Brandywine Battlefield, The Lazaretto, Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead, Newlin Grist Mill and of course Chester, Pennsylvania’s first city.
To kick off the semiquincentennial celebration the committee is hosting the ‘We the People Party’ at the Valley Forge Military College on January 9, 2026.
The party will serve as an information session, a fundraiser for the year-long celebration and a chance to learn more about how to help as a volunteer.
Tickets for the We the People Party | January 9, 2026 | 6-9 P.M.
America 250 PA Delco | Facebook | Instagram
Valley Forge Military College 1001 Eagle Road, Wayne, Pa. 19087
Red Gravy Goods is a new shop from the powerhouse couple known for restaurants and retail spots all along 13th Street in Midtown Village.
Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney started opening their spots over 20 years ago, with Chef Marcie focusing on food, and Valerie stocking the shops.
This new novelty and gift shop in the heart of South Philadelphia is stocked with fun foodie finds, Philly-centric items, and local sports star items to name a few.
The expansive inventory also includes babywear and other exclusive finds you can only get at the shop, jewelry, books, and a ‘hat patch bar’ where you can have a custom cap designed while you wait – made from your choice of over 100 embroidered patches.
Red Gravy Goods | Instagram
1335 E. Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
WPVI
Source link