5
5.0
- 4.9Food
- 4.9Service
- 4.8Ambience
- 4.7Value
Noise • Moderate
Icon
Sao
$50 and over
Oyster Bar
1710 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147-5611
Make a reservation
Sao
5
$50 and over
Oyster Bar
Philadelphia
Make a reservation
2 people
Nov 7, 2026
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.
About this restaurant
- Neighborhood gem
- Hot spot
- Good for special occasions
OpenTable Icon
2026
From the OpenTable editors: James Beard Award-winning chef Phila Lorn and his wife Rachel followed up their smash hit Bella Vista restaurant Mawn with this East Passyunk gem that’s one of the toughest reservations to score in town. Once you snag a spot in the intimate space done up with neon art and stained glass windows, you can look forward to oysters and other raw seafood with Southeast Asian twists. Order crudo and crab gravy noodles alongside innovative cocktails and settle in for a memorable evening.
Additional information
- Dining styleCasual Elegant
- Price$50 and over
- CuisinesOyster Bar, Southeast Asian
- Hours of operationWed–Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
- Contact
- Website
- Dress codeSmart Casual
- Award-winning
- OpenTable Icons 2026
- NeighborhoodPhiladelphia
- Parking detailsStreet Parking
- AdditionalBeer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wine
Experiences
Puck & See Tasting Menu
$75.00 per person
2 - 4 people
Multiple dates availableA popular option at our sister restaurant Mawn, Puck & See is a 2 hour family-style feast (1.5 hours for smaller parties) featuring an ever-changing tasting menu. This is similar to “omakase" style dining, where Chef and team create an experience specifically for you and your guests. All dishes are served family-style and we will explain each one as it arrives to your table. $75/person includes selections from the Raw Bar, Small Plates, Large Plates, and Dessert - all portioned for the table to share. Puck & See is required for tables of 3 or more. While daily specials and oysters are not included in the set experience, you are welcome to add them—or additional menu items—a la carte. Please note, we CAN accommodate a mostly pescatarian or nut free menu but we CANNOT accommodate a vegetarian/vegan menu, or a 100% gluten-free/shellfish-free menu. Please email us if you need more info. $75/person does not include tax or gratuity.
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Videos
Shared by creators who recently dined at this restaurant.
phillyfoodandbarrs
I don’t even think I possess the words necessary to describe my dinner experience at Sao. When I first went to Mawn, I knew it was my best meal of the year. But, Mawn has some serious competition from its sister restaurant. To say the food was amazing would be a disservice because the meal here was beyond top tier. The Scallops in Crab Gravy was one of the most elite bites of food I’ve ever had in my life. There were so many times where we all took a bite, and just stopped and looked at each other. My friend Hayley described this as an out of body experience and I truly agree. There wasn’t one miss, literally everything that hit the table was one of the greatest moments of my life. I am literally going to be sprinting back here. Also - Sao does walk ins for their bar, so definitely use that to your advantage! Honestly, you have to go here & experience Sao for yourself. When you go, do not skip the Mawn Cutlet or the Scallops in Crab Gravy, & be sure to tell ‘em PFAB ya! 📍1710 East Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia PA 19147📍 #pfab #phillyfoodandbarrs
Videos are powered by Seekeasy. How this content is generated
Reviews
OpenTable reviews from verified diners
Reviews from people who have dined at Sao.
Loved For
Philadelphia County
Best Overall
Philadelphia County
Best Food
Philadelphia County
Best Service
Philadelphia
Best Overall
Philadelphia
Best Food
Philadelphia
Best Service
Philadelphia
Hot spot
Review summary
AI-generated from verified diner reviews
299 Reviews
- G
Greg
New York City3 reviews
5.0Dined 2 days ago
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- J
Joan Gold
Philadelphia200 reviews
5.0Dined on October 29, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0Dined on October 29, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- K
Kristina
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0Dined on October 29, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- V
Vicki
Philadelphia14 reviews
5.0Dined on October 28, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- J
Jason Gold
Philadelphia14 reviews
3.0Dined on October 25, 2026
- Overall 3
- Food 5
- Service 3
- Ambience 3
Is this helpful?
- M
Marcus
Philadelphia1 review
5.0Dined on October 22, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- C
Colleen Gold
Philadelphia9 reviews
5.0Dined on October 17, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- M
Markeeta
Philadelphia2 reviews
5.0Dined on October 16, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 5
Is this helpful?
- G
Gwen
New York City78 reviews
5.0Dined on October 16, 2026
- Overall 5
- Food 5
- Service 5
- Ambience 3
Is this helpful?
Additional information
- Dining styleCasual Elegant
- Price$50 and over
- CuisinesOyster Bar, Southeast Asian
- Hours of operationWed–Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
- Contact
- Website
- Dress codeSmart Casual
- Award-winning
- OpenTable Icons 2026
- NeighborhoodPhiladelphia
- Parking detailsStreet Parking
- AdditionalBeer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wine
Featured in
October 13, 2026
The Toughest Reservations In Philly Right Now (And How To Get Them)
The guide praises Sao’s East Passyunk oyster bar, highlighting aged hamachi crudo, scallops in crab gravy, and crispy chicken with caramel fish sauce. Reservations for the following month are released at noon on the first, with a few walk-in spots also available.
Published in The Infatuation
August 26, 2026
Philadelphia eateries Honeysuckle and Sao make Bon Appétit’s 19 best new restaurants list
Sao in South Philadelphia was named one of Bon Appétit’s 19 best new restaurants of 2026. Its Cambodia-inspired, seafood-forward menu is an extension of chef Phila Lorn’s Mawn.
Published in 6abc Philadelphia
August 25, 2026
Sao named one of Bon Appétit’s 19 best new restaurants of 2026
The South Philly Southeast Asian oyster bar made Bon Appétit’s list of the country’s 19 best new restaurants. The publication praised its dishes for delivering unexpected flavors and ingredients.
Published in PhillyVoice
August 25, 2026
Honeysuckle and Sao land on Bon Appétit’s best new restaurants list
Named one of Bon Appétit’s 19 best new restaurants, the 33-seat East Passyunk oyster bar blends Phila Lorn’s Cambodian heritage with South Philly Italian American flavors. The magazine praised its dishes for delivering unexpected, bold flavors.
Published in Inquirer.com
FAQs
Many guests report leaving comfortably full, reviewers specifically say they were “absolutely stuffed, ” and describe dishes like the scallops in crab gravy and several entrees as filling.
Yes, guests celebrate anniversaries at Sao and praise its attentive service and intimate, cozy atmosphere, making it a lovely choice for a special evening.
Smart casual is the guide, polished but relaxed, and many guests report dressing up a touch for anniversaries and special nights.
Private dining isn't part of Sao's offering, the small dining room limits maximum parties to four, and the team holds a few seats for walk-in parties instead.
Yes, if a reservation isn’t available, Sao encourages using OpenTable’s notification feature for cancellations; they also hold a few seats for walk-ins and take names at the door for the next round.
Sao feels intimate and well‑curated, a small, cozy dining room with a lively bar where you can watch oysters and crudos prepared, making for a warm, theatrical night out.
How FAQ content is generated
- Home
- United States
- Philadelphia County
- Philadelphia
- Philadelphia
Make a reservation
Sao
5
$50 and over
Oyster Bar
Philadelphia
Make a reservation
2 people
Nov 7, 2026
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.