Mawn opened in the former Kalaya space at 764 S 9th Street with 28 seats and the weight of enormous expectations – Chef Phila Lorn delivered.
The 2025 James Beard Award winner for Emerging Chef creates Cambodian noodle house food with no rules, earning spots on Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs list and The New York Times’ 25 Best Restaurants in America list.
The intimate Bella Vista BYOB releases reservations on the first of each month at noon, and they book out in minutes.
What Makes Mawn Special
Chef Phila’s first-generation Cambodian-American perspective creates dishes inspired by family recipes while incorporating pan-Asian influences and modern techniques.
The banh chow crepe salad with “Sunday fish sauce” represents the kind of deeply personal cooking that connects to his Khmer roots while showcasing technical skill.
The soft-shell shrimp arrives crispy and glazed in fish sauce caramel with chili burn bright enough to be described as “road-flare” intensity.
The All-Star seafood rice gets jeweled with uni, crab, scallops, and roe creating luxury in a 28-seat BYOB that could easily be charging Rittenhouse prices but maintains Italian Market accessibility.
The Story Behind the Restaurant
Phila Lorn grew up in Philadelphia after his family came as refugees from Cambodia in 1985, then spent years cooking in restaurants including Guard + Grace, Los Chingones, and Mr. Tuna.
He opened Mawn with his wife Rachel – both bringing close to 20 years in Philly’s restaurant scene – with the courage that came from restaurant consulting work across the country and finally getting his father’s approval.
The name means they’re serious, the space in the former Kalaya location means the shoes they had to fill were massive.
The recognition came fast – James Beard Award, Food & Wine Best New Chef, NYT Top 25 in America – validating what early diners knew about this South Philly spot serving Cambodian food that respects tradition while evolving constantly.
Food Highlights
- Soft-Shell Shrimp: The crispy preparation glazed in fish sauce caramel delivers chili burn with road-flare brightness creating the kind of dish you dream about. 🦐
- All-Star Seafood Rice: Jeweled with uni, crab, scallops, and roe creating luxury on a plate that showcases why this earned national recognition. 🍚
- Banh Chow Crepe Salad: The crepe with “Sunday fish sauce” represents deeply personal Khmer cooking that connects to Phila’s family roots. 🥗
- Khao Soi: Complex flavors with perfect heat balance creating the kind of soup that shows technical skill and authentic preparation. 🍜
- Whole Fish: Served in hot ginger-scallion oil showcasing the kitchen’s ability to handle large-format preparations with precision. 🐟
- Oysters: With minty rau răm and Cambodian black pepper mignonette proving even the smaller dishes get the same attention as showstoppers. 🦪
Atmosphere
The 28-seat space at 764 S 9th Street in the Italian Market creates an intimate environment where every table feels the energy from the kitchen.
The small size means you sit close to other diners, but that adds to the convivial vibe rather than feeling cramped. Psychedelic Cambodian cover songs play while you eat – Del Shannon’s “Runaway” in Khmer sets the tone for a meal that respects tradition while pushing boundaries.
BYOB policy lets you bring your own drinks, keeping prices reasonable despite the James Beard Award on the wall. Walk-in lunch Thursday-Saturday offers another way to experience the food when reservations prove impossible.
Bottom Line
Visit Mawn for 2025 James Beard Award-winning Cambodian food where Chef Phila Lorn’s personal cooking creates dishes that earned spots on Food & Wine and NYT Best lists.
The soft-shell shrimp, All-Star seafood rice, and banh chow crepe salad prove this 28-seat BYOB delivers food that justifies the impossible reservations. The khao soi, whole fish, and oysters show the range from soup to large-format preparations maintains consistent excellence.
Since opening in the former Kalaya space, this Italian Market spot became one of Philadelphia’s hardest reservations with Cambodian noodle house food that respects family recipes while earning national recognition. Book through OpenTable. 🌟
Address: Mawn
764 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: Book via OpenTable
Hours: Wed: 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Thu-Sat: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Sun-Tue: Closed
Features: 2025 James Beard Award | 28 seats | BYOB | Walk-in lunch | Italian Market | Reservations 1st of month at noon