Philly’s dining scene just earned another round of well-deserved recognition! The New York Times released its highly anticipated “America’s Best Restaurants 2025” list, and two local standouts, Meetinghouse and Mawn, landed in the top 50.
Best restaurants in America: Meetinghouse
Meetinghouse opened in 2023 inside the former Memphis Taproom space in Olde Richmond. But it wasted no time in gaining national recognition.
New York Times food writer Nikita Richardson admitted the menu might look “basic”, but clarified, “nothing” at the tavern on Cumberland Street is basic.
Richardson praised dishes that elevate the everyday:
An expertly dressed green salad is stacked high enough to become the stuff of restaurant legend, the hot roast beef sandwich tastes as if it were invented in the kitchen mere minutes ago, and humble pork-and-beans takes on new life.”
She described Meetinghouse as “just” a tavern, but one that feels like something out of “historical fiction,” where every dish is touched with a kind of magic.
The accolades keep stacking up. In addition to The New York Times honor, Meetinghouse was also named one of the best bars in America by Esquire, cementing its place as a must-visit for both food and drinks.
And another one: Mawn
South Philly’s Mawn also took the spotlight, led by Chef Phila Lorn, who, alongside his wife Rachel, runs the beloved Cambodian-inspired house. Earlier this year, Lorn added a James Beard Award to his growing list of achievements.
As New York Times writer Brett Anderson explained:
The pinnacles of the menu at this modestly self-described ‘noodle house,’ like the wild boar prahok and banh chow crepe salad, tend to lean into the Cambodian cooking the chef Phila Lorn grew up earting at home. But a tour through the whole roster of bright, salty-sour salads, curries and hot and cold noodles is to experience Southeast Asia cuisine as fenceless terrain. There isn’t a dish you won’t ache to eat again.”
With both Meetinghouse and Mawn now ranked among the best restaurants in America, Philadelphia’s food scene proves once again that it’s not just thriving—it’s leading.
Reservations at Mawn can be made directly through their website.
Whereas, reservations at Meetinghouse can be booked through Resy.