A Kensington restaurant makes New York Times’ greatest Mexican restaurants list
From wood-fire grilled octopus to traditional cuisine, Amá is highlighting Philly's Mexican food.
Frankie Ramirez’s aguachiles, lamb-neck birria, and seasonal tlayudas have already earned his Kensington restaurant, Amá, a spot in Philadelphians’ hearts. Now, the chef has notched even higher-profile praise.
Ramirez’s contemporary Mexican menu landed Amá on the New York Times’ list of the greatest Mexican restaurants across the U.S.
“While Mexican restaurants [in Philadelphia] have long been shaped by Puebla, the home state of many local families, Mr. Ramirez offers a broad taste of the country’s extraordinary regional variety,” Times’ contributor Regan Stephens wrote of Amá, praising its standout chips and salsa combo — with house-nixtamalized heirloom corn tortilla chips and six artisan salsas — among other dishes.
Inquirer critic Craig LaBan also singled that starter out in his 2025 review of Amá, whose ambitious menu signals “a golden moment for the city’s Mexican restaurant scene,” LaBan wrote.
Amá, which opened in May 2025 at Front and Oxford Streets, is Ramirez’s ownership debut. The chef worked in Philadelphia kitchens for several years, starting as a dishwasher at Marcus Samuelsson’s Washington Square before moving on to a string of roles with Starr Restaurants, including executive chef at LMNO. His partners in Amá include his wife, Veronica, and Delaware County restaurateurs Crisalida Mata and Roberto Medina.
Earlier this year Ramirez earned a nod from the James Beard Awards committee as a semifinalist for emerging chef. The restaurant was also a close contender for the 2025 edition of The 76 best restaurants in Philadelphia.
“My goal is to change the way people stereotype our cuisine, and I think the time is right for Philly,” Ramirez told The Inquirer last summer.
The restaurant, at 101 W. Oxford St., is open for dinner seven days a week, with reservations on Resy.
