Mawn
Noodle shop · Bella Vista
764 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Highlights
Cambodian noodle house with flavorful Southeast Asian dishes
Cambodian noodle house with flavorful Southeast Asian dishes
"If you spot a group of Philadelphians in the wild, odds are they're headed to a BYOB. Right now, the BYOB that best encompasses Philly is Mawn. Not only does this Cambodian noodle shop in Bella Vista make soups, skewers, and soft-shell shrimp deserving of their own murals, but the varied menu works as an ode to the city’s Southeast Asian communities. Also, the owner talks to tables in his thick South Philly accent. No other city in the world could replicate this meal. If you’re free during the day, this BYOB is open for lunch on Thursday through Saturdays between 11am-2:30pm—and this may be your best bet at actually getting in. When it comes to dinner, they release reservations every 30 days. If you don’t find success there, you can always try to walk in with a few strangers, grab a table as the last guests are leaving, and exclaim “Finders Keepers!” when you sit down." - team infatuation
"Located in Bella Vista, Mawn is a small Cambodian restaurant with some of our favorite food in town. But it’s their head-on soft shell shrimp that we keep talking to our neighbors, Uber drivers, and strangers in line at PennDot about. Each bite into the shell gives a satisfying crunch, the Bird's Eye chili gives it a peppery kick, and the Thai basil and fish sauce caramel is the perfect balance between sweet and earthy. Order a bowl for the table, and then order 10 more. If you’re free during the day, this BYOB is open for lunch on Thursday through Saturdays between 11am-2:30pm—and this may be your best bet at actually getting in. When it comes to dinner, they release reservations every 30 days. If you don’t find success there, you can always try to walk in with a few strangers, grab a table as the last guests are leaving, and exclaim “Finders Keepers!” when you sit down. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Mawn is a tiny BYOB in Bella Vista known for excellent Cambodian dishes that we’d eat every day (if only we could get in). And the littleneck somlaw macchi is no exception. It’s a bowl of clams that bob around in a tamarind lemongrass, basil oil, and Thai chili broth that looks almost volcanic orange. But it’s not fiery—it’s rich, creamy, and layered with flavor. It’s the clam dish of our fantasies, and by that we mean our regular, everyday lives, wherein we think about it constantly until we get to eat it again. If you’re free during the day, this BYOB is open for lunch on Thursday through Saturdays between 11am-2:30pm—and this may be your best bet at actually getting in. When it comes to dinner, they release reservations every 30 days. If you don’t find success there, you can always try to walk in with a few strangers, grab a table as the last guests are leaving, and exclaim “Finders Keepers!” when you sit down. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"This Cambodian noodle shop could only exist in Philly. The small Bella Vista BYOB has walls covered in old rugs, mirrors that the host of Antique Roadshow would drool over, and dishes that we think about more than the Eagles winning the Super Bowl. The menu is heavily influenced by the chef/owner’s Cambodian heritage, but you’ll find soups, noodles, and skewers from all over Southeast Asia. We always get the head-on soft-shell shrimp with fish sauce caramel, and tell everyone we know to do the same. If you’re free during the day, this BYOB is open for lunch on Thursday through Saturdays between 11am-2:30pm—and this may be your best bet at actually getting in. When it comes to dinner, they release reservations every 30 days. If you don’t find success there, you can always try to walk in with a few strangers, grab a table as the last guests are leaving, and exclaim “Finders Keepers!” when you sit down. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"This hot dog is not a guaranteed fixture on Mawn’s menu daily. But when it’s at the Bella Vista restaurant, you should get it. This is a 100% destination dog. And by that, we mean this combination of an all-beef dog, salty prohok, crunchy cabbage, pickled jalapeño, and mayo would make the masses build a temple to it centuries ago. The finishing touches are crispy shallots, and it’s on a buttery Sarcones roll. It’s one of those dishes that’s as good to look at, get a tattoo of, and obsess over, as it is to eat. If you’re free during the day, this BYOB is open for lunch on Thursday through Saturdays between 11am-2:30pm—and this may be your best bet at actually getting in. When it comes to dinner, they release reservations every 30 days. If you don’t find success there, you can always try to walk in with a few strangers, grab a table as the last guests are leaving, and exclaim “Finders Keepers!” when you sit down. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - candis mclean
