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Owner story · Philadelphia

Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean in Center City.

Tayfun Abuska · Owner, Kanella

2,969deliveries by PinkbotSince March 2026
$168Kof food deliveredSince March 2026
Kanella’s dining room: a brick wall, leather banquettes and an amber bulb
Chicken shish with rice, sumac onions and a charred pepper on a blue gingham cloth

Kanella, since 2008

He kept the name, and the falafel.

Konstantinos Pitsillides opened Kanella at 10th and Spruce in 2008 as a Cypriot BYOB. In January 2022 Tayfun Abuska took it over: a chef from Turkey who started at 19 washing dishes in a hotel in Izmir, then cooked across the US, from the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole to José Andrés’ minibar and Zaytinya in Washington. He kept the Kanella name and several of Pitsillides’ recipes, the falafel among them, as a tribute, and moved the menu toward Turkish flavors. His partner Omer Yazici has been there since day one.

“Under chef Tayfun Abuska’s ownership, it’s just as delicious.”Resy, The Best BYOBs in Philadelphia, 2026
An amber filament bulb over Kanella’s dining room

The menu

Meze from Turkey and Cyprus, kebabs from the grill.

Mutabal, muhammara, piyaz and patlican sit beside Cyprus potato chips and seared halloumi. Adana kebab, manti and levrek come from the kitchen, and kunefe and Turkish coffee close the meal, on cobalt-patterned plates made for sharing.

Ground lamb kebab, rice pilaf

Main

Adana KebabGround lamb kebab, rice pilaf
Salmon cubes, grilled lettuce, rice pilaf

Main

Salmon KebabSalmon cubes, grilled lettuce, rice pilaf
Feta and spinach pie, spring onions

Main

SpanakopitaFeta and spinach pie, spring onions
Roasted peppers, walnuts, pomegranate molasses

Meze

MuhammaraRoasted peppers, walnuts, pomegranate molasses
Fried beef fritters, bulgur wheat, tahini, walnuts, pistachios

Meze

KibbehFried beef fritters, bulgur wheat, tahini, walnuts, pistachios
Filo pastry, pistachios and walnuts

Dessert

BaklavaFilo pastry, pistachios and walnuts
Diners at blue gingham tables outside Kanella

Delivery with Pinkbot

Pinkbot delivers Kanella’s orders from 10th and Spruce.

  • Since March 24, 2026Pinkbot picks up Kanella’s delivery orders at the corner and brings them to the door.
  • 481 deliveriesin October 2026, the busiest month so far.
  • About 16 a dayon an average day this fall.

Visit Kanella

Bring your favorite bottle along.

1001 Spruce StPhiladelphia, PA 19107
Order onlineReserve on Resy@kanellarestaurant
Shepherd salad in a blue-patterned bowl
Bringing people together every day.Meze made for sharing, tables indoors and out, catering and private parties.

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Keep more of every order.