1 Kobe Beef Corn Dog

Royal Tavern, 937 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-389-6694

Even a corn dog needs a makeover every once in a while. This juicy American Kobe is dunked in homemade batter to create a delicious gourmet dog-on-a-stick. Served with chopped relish, made-from-scratch vinegar potato salad and creamy honey mustard, it puts the Texas Tommy to shame. And at 8 bucks, it's easily the cheapest Kobe dish around.

Mandoline, 213 Chestnut St., 215-238-9402

Bid farewell to your Easy Mac dorm days. Mandoline's sophisticated mac 'n' cheese is all-grown-up. The freshly sliced lobster tail is sauteed in butter and truffle oil and served on a plate of elbow macaroni, then smothered in melted sharp cheddar, bechamel sauce, grated parmesan and a lobster claw for good measure.

Barclay Prime, 237 S. 18th St., 215-732-7560

This boutique steakhouse is no stranger to putting an elegant twist on an everyday dish. Why expect any less when it comes to burgers? The Kobe Slider, a mini burger that's taller than it is wide, is just one of six varieties served with caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese on a house-made brioche bun.

White Dog Café, 3420 Sansom St., 215-386-9224

Drenched in hot sauce, White Dog Café's organically reared, free-range chicken is served with a rich and creamy bleu cheese sauce and locally grown organic celery and carrot sticks—perfect for both the beer-guzzling football freaks and eco-friendly activists.

Cereality, 3631 Walnut St., 215-222-1162

Cereal gets the five-star treatment at this University City hot spot, a veritable sweet tooth mecca serving more than 30 varieties of hot and cold cereal and 36 sugar-fix toppings. The Brown Betty, served in a Chinese to-go box by PJ-clad employees, is made with hot oatmeal and sweet molasses sugar and topped off with banana slices and crumbed streusel.