Phila Lorn of Mawn Honored with 2025 James Beard Award

South Philadelphia's Phila Lorn was honored with the 2025 James Beard Award for Emerging Chef for his work at Mawn. According to the James Beard Foundation, the award recognizes a “chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.”

Lorn is the only Philadelphian who was honored at the foundation's Restaurant and Chef Awards held at the Lyric Opera in Chicago on Monday, June 16.

According to a Philadelphia magazine report, Philadelphia had 14 chefs and restaurants named as semifinalists in 10 different categories for the 2025 James Beard Awards earlier this year. 

By April, when the official nominations had been announced, Philly had only four finalists: Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday (nominated for Outstanding Bar) and Phila Lorn from Mawn (Emerging Chef). For the Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic category, Amanda Schulman from Her Place Supper Club and Jesse Ito from Royal Sushi and Izakaya were in competition.

According to Mawn's website, the South Philly noodle house is the first restaurant for Chef Phila Lorn and his wife Rachel, who have a combined two decades of experience working in Philadelphia's restaurant scene. Mawn's menu showcases Cambodian cuisine and dishes from across Southeast Asia.

Mawn is at 764 S. Ninth St. in Philadelphia. The BYOB establishment is open for lunch (no reservations) from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Dinner (with reservations requested) is served Wednesday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.