Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Perla

    4.6 (315 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Perla Photos

    PERLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Perla

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The pile! Paloma Pompano, Spring Rolls, BBQ Chicken, Pork Cubes, Garlic Fried Rice, and vegetables.
    Michael G.

    My friend and I came to try Filipino food at Perla for the first time. We made a great choice. Based on what I've read from prior Yelp reviews, I was expecting this BYOB to have a menu and the ability to make some decent choices. But not anymore. It's family style only at $50 a head not including tax and tip. But believe me, you'll go home full and probably with a doggie box. The restaurant has less than ten tables and thankfully only one was occupied when we arrived without a reservation. The tables were covered in banana leaves and we almost weren't prepared for what to expect. You eat with your hands (but they'll give you utensils if you dare)! The food is served piled high in the center of your table! You'll start with a nice sweet roll, and then the pile starts. First some garlic rice, then multiple types of vegetables. You'll get a wonderful Paloma Pompano fish, half a BBQ chicken, and crispy pork belly cubes. You'll also receive some spring rolls. Three sauces will come with your pile. Both of us almost burned our hands with the attempts to rip open the chicken and fish. But everything tasted so good. The table and our clothes got messy rather quickly. The meal ended with a chocolate budino with almond crust. For that, we did have a spoon for. Our server was more than happy to answer questions and complimented how "well we cleared our pile." We did have more than enough vegetables and rice for a meal at home. $150 for two including tax and tip. We did also purchase a lemonade type drink each, too. I recommend Perla for something different but really good food! I liked the fish the best.

    Main Course
    Madison C.

    DAMN! This was the best Christmas dinner my family's had in a whiiiile.... Definitely a hole in the wall especially with all the other bangin' resturants around Passyunk. That being said, this is worth every dime. The group portion is generous, and everything is absolutely delicious. This BYOB served garlic fried white rice, with curry fried veggies, grilled chicken, roasted pork, and a fried fish I've never had before called Porgy. If I lived closer to Philly I'd make it a mission to eat here at least once a year. This is authentic Filipino food at its best; its clean, filling, and honestly heals the soul. It was exactly what I needed to wrap the year up. Yes, they do provide boxes, and best believeee I was eating the leftovers for days (yes, DAYS, there was so much food...) after visiting here. You eat with your hands and share food with the people you invite, so be sure to invite your bestest of friends.

    Alice L.

    such a fun experience! cozy byob restaurant with a unique kamayan menu. here, it's recommended to eat with hour hands as per the traditional filipino style. my friend and i chose to honor the tradition, but we did see that other tables were using utensils, so that is an option if you're not up for using your hands. the food was great, and the quantity was massive. my friend and i ate until we were stuffed and still had enough leftover for two full meals. i personally really enjoyed the lumpia and pork belly. the only caveat is that it is a tasting menu, so not suitable for picky eaters or people with dietary restrictions. i also am not sure if the tasting menu changes, so i wouldn't come back unless it does, but i would recommend! i think this is an especially fun dinner if you have a large group. overall, great experience!

    Whole Fish Meal
    Liz M.

    We had an amazing experience. Family style and part of the whole experience. The fish and pork shank were amazing. All The food was delicious. The service was on point and we had food beyond what we could eat in one sitting. If you are afraid to eat with your hands and share from the table with your friends and family... not the place for you. But if you are in for a delicious culinary experience... this is a must try.

    Linda L.

    Cozy restaurant that emulates a first floor south philly apartment. It is a set menu and the staff caters to the amount of people eating... with plenty of leftovers. There is a bathroom to wash your hands, since you'll be eating with your hands. Staff does ask if you want utensils, which I took advantage of. 10/10 recommend to do at least once! In comparison to Marrakesh and Casablanca.. I would come back to Perla for their set menu

    Incredible experience. Just go... We had a large group (12) and they accommodated perfectly. Just go.. trust me.

    Olivia N.

    Great restaurant to go to with a group of friends. We had a lot of food left over with six of us at the table. Food was fresh and came out steaming hot! My favorite was the fish!

    Michael C.

    This was a really cool experience eating with my hands off a banana leaf. The food was extremely rich and heavy, but also lacked flavor at the same time. Service wasn't great, even for how small the place is. The meal was very expensive for what you get also.

    Fish and chicken
    Jeremy W.

    When friends ask for a unique spot in Philly, I point them to Perla. Perla, located in vibrant part of town, Passyunk, showcases Filipino food in its authentic form. For $50 per person, you are given a ton of food on a huge banana leaf that covers the table. No utensils are provided as the food is meant to be eaten with your hands; however, you may ask the staff for utensils and they will kindly bring a set for you. For the spread, you are given fried pork belly, chicken in a soy and lemongrass marinade, fried whole fish, fried rolls, fried pork, assorted vegetables, and dipping sauces, all on a bed of garlic rice. Fair warning, this gets messy especially with all the oils. No shame in asking for some utensils if you're not comfortable with oily fingers, but I recommend embracing the culture and giving it a try! Everything is super flavorful, especially with the garlic rice. It is on the heavier side because most of the ingredients are fried or stir fried in oil, so come with a large group. I've seen groups ranging from 4 to even 12 here. It's really a great time especially since it's BYO. Come celebrate with your friends! However, I might recommend you try another place for a date night because it gets messy, unless you and your date are cool like that haha I think Perla has its place in Philly. Great food and service, with BYO. Can you beat that? I typically pay a visit when a group of friends are in town or if I want to introduce family to a unique experience. Ignore the calories for the night and indulge!

    The whole meal
    Shannon S.

    Be ready for something different. This place has a fixed menu. Everything is cooked and brought out and dumped on the table on banana leaves. You eat with your hands. The crispy pork belly was tender inside and cripsy on the outside. There is a whole fish on top that was flavorful and tender. The rice and veggies were cooked in a mild curry and coconut milk. Everything was fresh and tasty. The portions were enough for 8 people. Fun experience , good food, good service.

    Ash Y.

    For a memorable dining experience or a great spot to impress out-of-town guests, Perla is the place to for you! The food is served in a traditional Filipino boodle fight or kamayan style, where everything is laid out on the table over banana leaves and you're meant to share and eat with your hands. For $50 per person, you get a variety of food and the dishes are incredibly tasty. It is well worth the price point and you won't leave hungry-- in fact, you'll probably end up taking some leftovers home!

    Sophie W.

    Such good food for such a great price! Nothing feels more celebratory than digging your fingers into rice and deep fried pork belly. They started us off with this bread roll that was deliciously sweet and soft, then followed it up with a heaping pile of fish, pork belly, chicken, and lumpia. There were also curried veggies. I thought the chicken was a bit salty but the rest of the food was excellent, especially when paired with the sauces that were given. My favorite was the whole fish, which came off in tender flaky pieces. It definitely needed the vinegar sauce but was absolutely delicious combined with that and the fragrant garlic rice. Service was also prompt, and we got hand wipes to clean our hands before the dessert of coconut chocolate pudding. I left stuffed and the two of us had two big boxes of leftovers that we brought home too. For the $50 pp price, this can't be beat!

    Whole Fish Meal
    Christian C.

    Came here with 3 friends on a Sunday evening at 8 pm (reservation required). The servings are obscenely large. Each person gets apportioned a while leg of chicken, large piece of pork belly, and fish to share. There also is a large amount of rice, egg rolls, and vegetables for everyone to share. The chicken was very juicy and the pork belly had a nice crust on it. We each had to take a lot of food leftover. Meal finished with a chocolate mousse. Pretty fun overall experience to enjoy with friends. Interior is quite small and clean.

    Pork pats is like osso buco but crispy

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lily W.
    2
    23
    62

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom P.
    0
    87
    41

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kalvin W.
    611
    43
    63

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jim R.
    147
    473
    1071

    4 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Perla

    Is this place even good?

    Went for the feast on a Sunday night. AMAZING!!!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Filipino 1,328 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Roxanne - Potato with potato and roe

    Roxanne

    4.2(17 reviews)
    1.2 miSouth Street District, Queen Village

    I was very excited coming into this dining experience at Roxanne with the hype I was seeing online…read more To start it off, the place is very "unique" I'd say... very hipster edgy vibe. From the paper sign on the front door with handwritten sharpie reading "Roxanne (its a restaurant)", I should've known this would be an interesting one. I walked in for my 8 PM resy on a Saturday night and the place wasn't even 1/4 of the way full. There was one server taking care of all the tables, rightfully so. It took forever for the server to remember I was sitting there and to come take my order, so that was a rough start to the meal. I ordered 3 items and it was time for the meal to get started. First came out the raw prawn starter, which was just okay. Nothing really stood out about it, which kind of made it a chore to eat given that this dish was such a rich texture and mouthfeel to it with no contrasting textures to balance out the slimy richness. Next up was the scallops starter. Also was an extremely rich and creamy dish that would've benefitted from a crispy/crunchy texture contrasting ingredient being added. Got through these two starters and my stomach was already feeling very heavy from the richness. I was kind of regretting getting the entree that I chose after those two starters as my stomach couldn't really handle any more richness. But I chose the richest dish of them all, the duck breast entree. The sear and cook on the duck was great, they nailed it there. It came with a semi hard cheese, preserved strawberries, marinated peppercorns, and a rich sauce. It was pretty tasty and I liked the flavor contrasts of the fruit with the cheese and rich duck flavor. However, again, this one needed something crunchy mixed in there to offset a yet-again overly rich dish. The duck entree was pretty good, but I really regretted ordering it after those first two dishes. Overall, from the vibe of feeling like you're sitting in an illegal dining operation inside of someone's home art studio, to the subpar service even on a slow evening, to the lack of contrasting flavors, textures, and tastes of the dishes, this is definitely not a place I will be returning to.

    The set menu at Roxanne was truly an experience to behold- from the ambiance, the food quality and…read moreselection, and service. -- As a first time diner at Roxanne, I was throughly wowed. Our reservation was for dinner at 8 PM on a Tuesday (8/5/25) with the set menu, and found we were the only ones with this time seating. It made our meal more intimate and special, as if we had rented out the whole restaurant for ourselves. We emailed Chef Alexandra pretty last minute (see email on website), so we were ecstatic that they could accommodate our request for set menu dining. The friendly service throughout our meal also echoed the welcoming nature of Roxanne as an establishment. Chef Alexandra, the amazing one-woman team, honestly wowed us with the set menu. Upon first glance, basically every type of protein was on the menu for us! As a whole, the plating was so whimsical and fun, and the portions were very generous for our party of 4. Around halfway through the meal, we were already full. The extensive menu started off with the appetizers of a baguette, beef tartare, and a shrimp cocktail. The baguette was regular, the beef tartare felt fresh, and the shrimp cocktail had a fantastic spicy cocktail dipping sauce. One of us just started drinking it like a gazpacho since it was so good! The next segment was the confit tuna, chicken, crab, salmon, and duck. The tuna was maybe less memorable than the delicate tart it was served on (and the hand the tart was served on), which really made the dish whimsical. Honestly, the next dish was most shocking dish for me personally- the chicken on a bed of hot sauce and sweet melon, which was such an interesting combination. I had my doubts, but it was such a perfect interplay of flavors! It really subverted my expectations. My personal favorite dish was the crab gnuddi, with its perfectly chewy bounce and generous healings of crab. The slice of duck was amazingly tender and juicy, but the other dishes were the stars for me. Lastly, dessert! Our dessert was a coffee crème brûlée and basque cheesecake. Once again, the plating and theatrics at the table, such as the pouring of cherry sauce over the basque cheesecake dish by Chef Alexandra, really made the meal memorable. For me, the crème brûlée was too sweet (as it should be!), but I really enjoyed the basque cheesecake! Plated like a fluffy cloud, it was airy and balanced perfectly with the sour cherry. I'm singing high praises for Roxanne, and highly recommend it as a "fancy" dining experience. From the service to the ambiance to the food, the all-in $190/pp price tag was well worth it. Although it's past my price point for frequent dining, it was really such a memorable experience!

    Photos
    Roxanne - Interior seating

    Interior seating

    Roxanne - Inside Cheesesteak

    Inside Cheesesteak

    Roxanne - Interior seating (some Japanese style floor seating)

    See all

    Interior seating (some Japanese style floor seating)

    Izzy's 33 - Milkshakes

    Izzy's 33

    4.5(89 reviews)
    0.2 miEast Passyunk Crossing

    Amazing service! Great menu options and decent amount of seating…read more Food for the price was pretty quantitative and filling. One high table with outlets.

    The plan this week was to go to breakfast/brunch two different days, and I am so happy that we…read morehappened to start that adventure with a trip to Izzy's 33. The choice to go here was made due to the fact we have an engagement in South Philly. However, Jen simply pulled up a list of places in the area and picked here. After looking at the menu though, we knew we had likely locked in on a perfect place. Not only is the menu extremely extensive, but it also has an almost unending plethora of Mexican and Central American inspired brunch choices that had me trying to make selections two nights before we were even going to go. After stopping nearby at the place we needed to attend first, we leisurely made our way to the 1700 block of ninth street, and were amazed to find parking right in front. From years of working in the area and dealing with parking and driving here, finding a space with absolutely zero issue right off the bat was already a recipe for success and obviously just a sign of the boon to come. The little cafe is tucked away into what appears to at one point, likely many years ago, to have been a classic center row home. It's not an end property, and despite the space inside being quite roomy for what it is, it's a narrow corridor with the seating up front, prep and serving area in the center, and kitchen in the rear. Very cute, and everything inside has this older wooden feel to it, as if plucked from an old bookstore. We only had the opportunity to converse with one staff member, our server; she was not only wonderful, upbeat, and friendly, but also helpful, guiding us to a nearby location to get banana leaves for tamales I planned to make later in the week. That's just the beginning because I haven't even gotten to the food. This was one of the best breakfasts I have had in a very long time. The Huevos Enmolados was so outstanding, not only did I finish the perfectly build stack of tostadas with all the ingredients stacked deliciously on top, but also asked for a small bowl of tortilla chips to scoop up the remaining mole that had become its own unique sauce amalgamation with the runny eggs and cheese and other flavors. I cannot overstate how wonderful this was. If I could have physically stomached a second meal, I would have ordered a complete second portion and eaten that too. Jen's carnitas skillet was also outstanding, although I only had a taste. We also had a side of scrapple which was delivered perfectly crisp and molten inside, steaming hot like forbidden meat-lava. Even the local classics are done perfectly here. Not only is Izzy's 33 worth visiting if you live in the city, if you are in the area at all, this place warrants a trip for breakfast or brunch. It is a premiere experience at a reasonable price especially for the city. I am sure there may be places that have a different selection, or may be preferable to some people, but for everything they offer, I don't think they can be beat; at least not easily. Do yourself a favor and get in here today and enjoy some of their unique offerings. I can guarantee that you'll enjoy.

    Photos
    Izzy's 33
    Izzy's 33 - The best brunch!!

    The best brunch!!

    Izzy's 33

    See all

    Talula's Garden

    Talula's Garden

    4.5(2.5k reviews)
    1.3 miSociety Hill
    $$$

    Finally! No disappointment either, that's always best. Cherry on top, with my daycare bestie! Who…read morecan say that?! And if you can, bless UP! The space is warming, inviting and I love the farmhouse chic vibes. I was t there for the aesthetics, but it was lovely. Staff is super attentive, knowledgeable and sweet! JESS guided us through the lovely menu. I studied it prior, LOL, and she was on point! The experience was chill, love and yummy. Risotto with scallops and shrimp was phenomenal! Next time I'll ask to 86 that brown butter vinaigrette. The biscuits with the sublime butter was a great start along with the strawberry salad my GODSIS got. It was FRESH! We got different desserts to try and I'll be back to try them all. She got the mini donuts and according to her "they are not munchkins"! No these were special, because I tried them. Perfection. We shared the sweets and that butterscotch treat was perfect and here is where the service over stands! Thank you JESS! Can't wait to go back when it's warmer and sit out in the GARDEN! Lovely service, esthetics and vibes. Park nearby, enjoy and stroll the park. Can't wait to return. S T A R R

    Food-- biscuits were like 0/10. It was advertised like Red Lobster, on some cheddar bay type of…read morething. They were extremely hard and were not giving that. Red Lobster should take over in that department!! The shrimp & grits were DELICIOUS --10/10. The dessert was really good, too. I'll give it a 9/10 because I didn't get to enjoy much of it bc I left it in the fridge and forgot about it. But from what I tasted when I got it, I love that the lemon cake wasn't too tart considering the raspberry sorbet and lemon curd took on that role. And that mocktail sangria was delicious--OMG 12/10! Service-- the guy was great! No complaints. It was my friend's birthday and they came through with the cute birthday brownies for us to share. Ambiance-- it's a really cute place and I hope to sit in the back one day because it's really dope over there. I took myself on a tour .

    Photos
    Talula's Garden
    Talula's Garden
    Talula's Garden

    See all

    The Love

    The Love

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    1.5 miRittenhouse Square, Penn Center
    $$$

    The Yelp rating hold up! The his place was great!…read more Out of towner here visiting for the weekend. Turned to Yelp to find a good place and this didn't disappoint. The restaurant has 2 levels and there is an elevator to the second floor. We were seated at a window which was quite nice. We were able to watch the city streets and architecture while enjoying our meal. The service was top notch, they were incredibly fast and attentive. All of the food was fantastic. If I lived around the area this would be a staple for a nice night out!

    Had a lovely last minute brunch here on Saturday before we spent a day in the city before our…read moreflight home. We found a last minute reservation and walked quickly there. It's situated right near rittenhouse square so it's a bustling and great area. The spring festival was happening is it was PACKED! We were seated by a window and immediately given water. We ordered some lattes that took quite a while to arrive - we learned they have one coffee machine so things were backed up! Our serve apologized profusely and they gave us a sweet treat on the house at the end of our meal. I ordered the frittata which was delicious and my husband to the omelette . We also got the drop biscuits with strawberry rhubarb jam and omg am good! Our brunch was great and the interior was modern but felt homey and we had the best service and the manager also came to see things were going. I would definitely recommend this place and hope to come back next time I'm in town!

    Photos
    The Love
    The Love
    The Love

    See all

    Perla - filipino - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...