Enjoying lunch at Mawn felt like I had won the lottery!! If you know how hard it is to secure a…read morereservation than you know the feeling! So you might stumble across info for the best times to secure a walk-up reservation and they'll tell you to arrive at least by 10:30am Thursday through Saturday as Mawn opens at 11am. But let me tell you how I pulled up in front of Mawn at 10:40am on a Thursday and there was already a line of about 15 people!! Mind you, these people have PEOPLEZ as quite a few were holding spots in line for others in their party who could now casually stroll up to the line since their spot was secured by their people. I'm telling you have a game plan! If I knew then what I know now I probably would have got there at least by 9:30, seriously. My party got waitlisted as soon as we were just one person away from entering the restaurant and we had to wait for another 40 minutes. Fortunately it was a nice day so we just walked around the neighborhood and came back and got in. It's a small quaint place that only seats about 28 people. You'll feel like your visiting your favorite relatives home. You'll glance around at the other guest and feel like WOW i'm one of the few who finally made it into one of the most coveted highly acclaimed restaurants in Philly! Now let me see if it lives up to the hype! haha! I started out with the pear melon salad. It was light and refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed the citrus notes and the pear slices. I would have never thought to add the pear but that really complimented the salad well. I was told that a MUST try is the head on soft shell shrimp. At first I wasn't thrilled about the thought of eating the head but said what the heck, lets go for the full experience! If you love softshell crabs you'll love this! There was nothing off putting about it. It simply taste like delicious premium shrimp in a fish caramel sauce with a hint of thai basil and chili. It was wonderful. I could have gone for a second round but I wanted to try other items. I enjoyed the seafood fried rice..this is similar to the crab fried rice but included uni roe and caviar with saracha on the side so you can regulate your heat level. I'll say this, while I enjoyed the seafood fried rice and the bonus elements of it, I was not a fan of the texture of the rice itself. Perhaps it's just my preference. The rice was light, fluffy and slightly sticky in texture whereas I prefer more of a thai fried rice which is dry, slightly firm and non-clumpy texture. But that's not taking any cool points away from Mawn. It's just my preference that i'm mentioning in case anyone else goes in expecting a different texture. I love the team service aspect at Mawn. Our waiter emphasized that we're not bugging anybody if we need anything we can stop any staff person walking by. I love that. Beef Noodle soup is delicous here. So is the yellow curry noodle soup. The fish is really good here too. I didn't realize I could have requested for it to be deboned (probably because I was talking to much lol) But my waiter was kind enough to come over and help me debone it when they saw I was struggling lol This was the first time I ever had a green thai tea! It was really a treat. Not overly sweet. Nothing but pure deliciousness here! And a super helpful warm friendly staff.

Great service and great food! The place is small so it makes sense that it's so hard to get a…read morereservation. I love a good BYO, so I can splurge a bit more on the food and not worry about the cost of alcohol. For a party of three, we order 5 appetizers and shared the all star fried rice, which was a perfect amount of food. We got the beef skewers, which were definitely a favorite - the meat absolutely melts in your mouth! The papaya salad paired well with this, as it was tangy and refreshing, especially on such a hot day. The scallop crudo was a special for the night, but I think they should add this to their permanent menu because it was definitely a standout! The all star fried rice at $54 was also well worth it. I am often disappointed by dishes like these due to the lack of "stuff", but there was crab throughout and a generous portion of roe. I was a little disappointed however that there were only 2 scallops at that price. Overall, each dish had impeccable flavor, great presentation, and a good amount of seafood for the price.

Finally got down to check out Sophie's Kitchen and my only regret was taking so long to get there…read more I cannot say I've had a lot of Cambodian food but I can say I've had a lot of good food and Sophie's kitchen delivered good Cambodian food. I appreciate how they could customize the spicy level on nearly all their dishes, so no limitations for you or your friends who might not be into spice. I had frog legs for the second or third time, this time fried, and yes they do taste like chicken. E3 (a sautéed seafood dish I won't attempt to pronounce) was amazing. I'd running it back in a heartbeat. Service is friendly. Prices reasonable. While the restaurant appears small, it is a bit larger than I imagined. Enjoy!

Today my family was refused service at Sophie's Kitchen in South Philadelphia because my son's…read moreservice dog (Nugget) was with us. Let that sink in. A child with a disability. A trained medical service animal. Turned away at the door. This was supposed to be a Lunar New Year family meal with grandparents and kids. Instead it became a moment my son had to experience rejection simply for having the support he needs to navigate the world safely. Service dogs are not pets. They are medical equipment protected under federal law and basic human decency. No family should ever have to explain their child's disability to eat lunch. No child should ever be made to feel unwelcome because they need assistance. And no business that chooses exclusion deserves community support. We will never return. And I urge families, neighbors, and anyone who believes in accessibility and dignity to spend their money elsewhere. South Philadelphia is full of restaurants that welcome everyone. Support them. Accessibility is not optional. Inclusion is not negotiable. And dignity is not up for debate. https://www.theinfatuation.com/philadelphia/reviews/sophies-kitchen

Philadelphia was one of the main settlements for Cambodian immigrants during the Khmer Rouge era,…read morehence Cambodian cuisine became a local specialty. Since the famous Mawn restaurant was unavailable, we tried a more affordable, local option. Phnom Penh Rice Noodle Soup: At only $10.95, it included minced pork, sliced ​​pork, sliced pork roll, shrimp, and squid, all very fresh - incredibly cheap! The seasoning was light yet umami, with a bright and non-greasy aroma of deep-fried garlic and garlic oil - a highlight. The rice noodles were round and boiled a bit softer than Vietnamese pho. I found it similar to Fuzhou-style Laohua撈化 (rice vermicelli soup), but with more flavor; my friend described it as a "thinner version of Chaoshan-style kueh teow粿條 soup," which is quite apt. Since it was my first time eating Cambodian food, it's hard to say whether it was good or bad, but my Cantonese stomach thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wow, the food was truly authentic. You could tell the owners/cook loves what they do. Hubs is…read moreCambodian, so he knows true authenticity. We tried a bunch of dishes like whole fish, long bean salad with beef, prahok, sour soup (green), and more. Everything we had was delicious. The whole fried fish was light and so tasty. The soup was definitely one of my favorites. Loaded with beef and perfect with all the other dishes. The bean salad could have used a bit more of the sauce, but it was still good. I will be back, for sure!

Super affordable food and the taste is not bad. I'd def recommend hủ tiếu over bánh canh, but like…read moreit is just normal. Cash only. The neighborhood is kinda sketchy tho.

Delicious. We both had the mi nam vang (egg noodle soup) with the fried donut. It's so delicious…read more This place is no frills, feels like you're eating in an auntie's kitchen, and it's so good. The spot is busy with diners & to-go orders but the staff got the food out quick.

Woo, where to start with Southeast Asian Market? We came by with a large group today, since some…read morefriends were visiting from out of town. Stalls were packed but certainly not the worst. Things will definitely get a lot busier as the season goes on. Frankly you can't really go wrong with anything here, so I just wanted to leave some best practices as someone who's iterated a few times here: - If getting skewered meat/papaya salad, just get it at whichever booth has the shortest line with what you want (and if you don't want anything in particular, just hop in the shortest line). There might be a slight difference between stands, but since it's so common, you can't really go wrong with anyone who sells. - Stir Fry Noodle Lady! Grab the chive cakes on the side too. - Skip the sugar cane and go for the simpler drinks on the menu. Passionfruit, lime honey, and things like that will be much more refreshing. - Bring a picnic blanket, as there's plenty of space to gather and eat adjacent to the booths, and you'll avoid eating on your feet all the time. Make sure to bring cash! Venmo/card is beginning to be accepted but may have a surcharge.

We're so lucky to have this in Philly…read more Go with a group, and go hungry. Get a bunch of food to share, and bring a picnic blanket. Delicious papaya salads, skewered grilled meats, fruits, panda waffles, soups... its impossible to choose just one thing. I also recommend going early when they first open. It gets hot, and it gets crowded! But make sure you put this on your to-try list !

Little C. is located in the heart of South Philadelphia. It's pure Cambodian culture at its best…read more For the most part the people are very kind and peaceful. It is really a very tight and closed community. There's a temple of worship that was built by hand from the monks that reside there as well as the people within the community. Often you find families outside playing in front of there homes or in the park across the street. It's common for the locals to be grilling in front of their house and selling there food for a small profit. You will find the unique scent of whatever is cooking in the air all year round. On the downside it's very dirty. The sidewalks and streets are lined with food scraps and debris. It is not such safe place to travel at night. It is known to have gang activity.

The corridor of 7th street between Oregon and Tasker can best be described as 'Little Cambodia.'…read more For those willing to brave the neighborhood, there's some secrets to be found here in the warmer months, May to September. The groceries in this area are cheaper than any place on Washington avenue and just as varied (if not moreso). The real reason to come down here is the street food. Anywhere in this area, but particularly along 7th between Ritner and Snyder, you'll be able to find street hawkers selling freshly open-air grilled beef and chicken at a single dollar per serving (two servings and some sticky rice for $2 for a total of $4 is enough for a meal). The best thing to try to get in this area if you're adventurous is the papaya salad from any of the hawkers (I prefer the fat lady at 7th just south of Winton, around 2130, I guess). In Thai, it's called somtam, but it is of Cambodian origin and called bok l'hong. Its hot, garlicy, salty goodness is fantastic at $5 no matter which hawker makes it for you (and it's prepared fresh to order by all of them, too). It's an enormous amount and really, it's enough for six people as an appetizer salad. Goes great with sticky rice. There're also hawkers along Moyamensing between 8th and 4th and around Mifflin Square at 6th and Ritner (NOT Mifflin, oddly enough) and they all carry the same sort of stuff. If you're worried about the area, there's a hawker on the south side of Jackson St near Mildred between 9th and 8th and that area's a tad less rough. I'd give five stars, but sometimes you'll venture here and find no hawkers. Their availability changes with the weather and on colder or rainy days, you'll find no one.

My partner and I absolutely love Cafe Diem!!! It's our go-to spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…read more We might be a little biased, but the food is always served to perfection. The space is small, but the service is quick, so you can easily get in and out within an hour. We always leave happy and satisfied. Our go to order is a small & large order of the Bun Bo Hue. Large order of Banh cuon. And drink.

Been coming here with my wife for over 10 years now. My first introduction to Bun Bo Hue (Hue style…read morebeef noodle soup) and, even having been to Hue, in Vietnam itself...this is still one of THE best bowls of Bun Bo Hue I have ever had. It is flavorful, spicy, full of herbs and meat and spices. The Vietnamese style coffee (Cafe Sua) is great too, an amazing morning option in my opinion. I don't believe they serve much else, but considering how good the Bun Bo Hue here is, they don't need too. The place is small, there are only a few tables, so my advice is to get here early, you will be thankful you did!

Came here for the boat noodle soup and it didn't disappoint. Never had this dish before so I don't…read morehave anything to compare it to but overall a solid noodle soup. Full of flavor and filling serving size. Also really liked the little condiments and add ins on the table. Service was friendly and quick. No complaints.

Service kinda slow, and kinda rude when we asked. I'm not…read morerecommended to go there. And they don't have what's on the menu.

I wish there're more meat in my Hu Tieu Nam Vang but it's pretty good. Not 100% what I expect a hu…read moretieu nam vang is but it cured the craving. The Bun Bo Hue is great too.

This is one of my favorite go to place for Cambodian/vietnamese food. I recommend the mee nam vang…read moreseafood. I like my noodles dry and this dish has the option of dry noodles or soup, like pho. It is reminiscent of my childhood.

Pretty clean restaurant in this Asian strip mall…read more I think even if you're not a Vietnamese cousins aficionado you'll be comfortable here. Some servers speak pretty good English. The pho dishes are all pretty good. I usually get the steak pho. Prices are reasonable. And service is good - responsive.

If you are looking for a large restaurant in philly for Vietnamese food, this is your place…read more Situated in a plaza with a bunch of other Vietnamese establishments. There is a parking area. The interior had many tsvkes, some large, some smaller. I believe they regularly host events based on the section of the menu where you can order food for a large group. I got the shrimp with sugar cane wrap dish. It was a diy wrap dish. I was slightly disappointed because I thought the shrimp would be cooked with the sugar cane, but was only served sugar cane on the side. The sugar cane tasted kind of weird too... A little sour... The rest of the platter was loaded with mint, perilla leaves, carrot, cucumber, rice noodles, that you can wrap in the rice noodle sheet that comes with hot water to dip in. I also found a piece of plastic in my rice noodles. This is to say, nothing was incredibly mind blowing, but the food felt nourishing and the interior was spacious. Staff were attentive too and filled up my water regularly.