Came for a birthday celebration. One of the few nicer places on my short list of restaurants with reservations available, so I decided to go for it. Service was excellent! Our staff were always looking out for us, and making suggestions and recommendations throughout our entire meal, and even helping us with some tips to better enjoy our meal (they saw me sweating in response to the Thai spice). Definitely made this a top-notch experience. Ambience here is great! Love places with *real* greenery indoors and a lot of natural light, like this place, and seats and tables were spread out sufficiently such that there was a nice background chatter without feel too infringed upon by other conversations. We ordered a good variety to share. The spare ribs and the glass noodles dishes were amazing! Everything came out as ready, but it was on a good cadence such that we were enjoying things as they were ready, hot and fresh. I'm no expert on legitimacy of flavors and dishes, but honestly this feels like the most legit stuff I've had in the Thai wheelhouse in a while. To boot, even though we said no to dessert because we had other plans, they came with a candle on a plate to still share birthday wishes. A nice touch! Definitely a fancy occasion kind of place in my books, but I'd definitely make a return trip on another occasion! read more

See all

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: April 2026 One restaurant in Philadelphia that I had wanted to visit for a long time was Kalaya, which was featured in the Chef's Table documentary on Netflix in 2024. I was moved by the personal story of the chef Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon in the show, and of course my wife Jun and I would never say no to some delicious Thai food. On our recent trip to Philly to celebrate our anniversary, Jun and I finally got to check out Kalaya (which is named for the chef's mother) on a rainy Sunday for lunch before driving back home. We were very pleased with the lunch at Kalaya, which in our mind really showcased the Thai spicy flavor well. The menu at Kalaya features Southern Thai dishes inspired by the chef's family history. The colorful display of the dishes stood out throughout our meal, but more importantly we also really liked the spicy flavor that felt genuine and soulful. The cute flower-shaped Shaw Muang dumplings with ground chicken were highly recommended by our server and the kick from the Thai chili set the right tone right away. We were also fond of the poached shrimp and cabbage salad with coconut cream (Yum Kalum Bplee) for the delightfully crispy texture. For the main dishes, we ordered one stir fry and one curry. If you have to order just one dish at Kalaya, I can't recommend the colossal crab stir fry with egg (Pu Pad Pong Karee) enough. Served with jasmine rice, this dish offered complex flavor of spicy, salty, sour and sweet that was quite unlike anything I had encountered in a while. As Jun and I were savoring this awesomeness, I wished that I could've eaten this every week. The goat and lamb curry (Gaeng Pae), served with pickled cucumbers and coconut turmeric rice, was also impressive, with rustic curry broth that suddenly hit my tongue with spice blend. Despite that powerful impact on my palate, I couldn't stop myself from enjoying the curry, especially with the coconut turmeric rice that neutralized the curry's spicy kick somewhat. We also shared a side dish of stir-fried local mushrooms (Hed Pad Kratiam) that was solid as well. We were running out of room in our stomach after cleaning up the savory dishes, so we settled with ordering a Thai iced coffee to go before hitting the road. Not surprisingly, Kalaya is a very popular restaurant in the Philly dining scene so getting a reservation in advance is essential. I was a bit nervous on our visit as we were running rather late (by around 30 minutes) from picking up our car from the parking lot, yet the restaurant was gracious enough to honor our reservation. The bright and lively dining space offered quite a fitting background to the character of the dishes. There is a full bar with Thai-inspired cocktails and concise wine list designed to complement the Thai spices well. Kalaya definitely lived up its hype as one of the most important restaurants in Philadelphia; Jun and I were glad to have visited and would be more than happy to come back for our next visit to the city. read more

See all

Despite the glowing reviews, my expectations for this restaurant weren't fully met. Given the price point, I anticipated every dish to be exceptional, but there was a noticeable gap in quality. We ordered the bird-shaped dumplings, fried curry squid, river prawns, branzino, and durian sticky rice for dessert. While the flavors were decent, I wouldn't have guessed it was Thai cuisine if I hadn't known we were in a Thai restaurant. The dumplings were tasty and had an interesting, unique shape. The branzino was beautifully prepared and cooked well. Unfortunately, the river prawns were the biggest disappointment. Although the prawns didn't taste fresh, we ate them anyway, only to suffer from food poisoning later that night. That was extremely disappointing. At this caliber and price, you'd expect the seafood to be impeccably fresh and handled properly. On a positive note, we really loved the beautiful interior of the restaurant and the service is great. read more

See all

Visited Kalaya for the first time for dinner in April 2026. Our server encouraged us to order family style (as that's how the menu was designed) but since 1/3 of my group was vegan, we decided to order 1 appetizer, and 2 entrees. The waitress reiterated we should be ordering more but we said we were okay with the portion sizes ordered. The chef came out and asked us about how we ordered. She also reiterated the menu and we ended up ordering an additional app and entree. Needless to say, we had a lot of leftovers. The food was good but I won't be rushing back. read more

See all

Went to Kalaya in for my partner's birthday and glad I did! I had the gui chai, jui guay, and hed pad kratiam, each dish full of bold, delicious flavors. The gui chai was crispy, the jui guay balanced, and the hed pad kratiam had deep umami. Portions are generous and we decided to go family style. The interior is beautiful, moody yet bright. Even on a weekday around 6, it was packed, so making a reservation is a must! It's lively but intimate, perfect for a date night, girls night, or any special occasion. The service was attentive and helpful. I'd definitely recommend it to any lover of flavor forward food! read more

Kalaya - Gui chay - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Oh my god I dream about that duck salad! Each dish tasted unique in this wonderful Thai restaurant. I went here to celebrate my dear friend, Kayla's, birthday and we had a fantastic time. One of my favorite restaurants in Philly now! It was also a beautiful restaurant. So many plants and great natural lighting. Our server was also very kind and cooperative. We were able to celebrate my friend's birthday very well. read more

See all

Amazing! I haven't had better Thai (tasting) menu ever! Worth the Michelin star. We did the tasting menu and the chicken dumplings were the star. The drinks are delish too! Cool ambiance and good service! read more

See all

The food and service here is incredible although the price is definitely a bit higher than what it's worth. I don't see myself coming back again but it's definitely worth checking out at least once. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and quiet enough so that you can enjoy conversation at your table. read more

See all

The place was so noisy and I feel like we got the best table in the restaurant. The place was full and I'm told Fridays and Saturdays are hard reservations to get! That's also the reason they have a fixed price menu on those days! The service was good every person was very nice the food was mediocre at best ! The branzino was good but came out late and was extra on top of the $85 per head! The drinks were very good both cocktails and mock tails. I definitely would not go back! Most of the food was drenched in lime juice and that coupled with the noise mage it an epic fail! read more

See all

Kalaya was an out-of-this-world dining experience in flavor, service, and vibes. Definitely one of the best meals I've had - it won top 50 in the U.S. for a reason! Walking in, the indoor greenery and sunroof windows make it seem like a lush sanctuary in the dead of winter (when I visited, there was solid ice all over the streets). The bar is beautiful and the open kitchen really adds to the ambiance. Service is incredibly attentive and kind! Khao niaw na goong - an appetizer that leans more on the sweet side with a savory twist from the prawns. The coconut on top helps bring it all together, loved this dish! Kalum tod nam pla - don't be fooled by the simple cabbage, this seared dish is somehow simultaneously both light and smoky. It was absolutely delish and was perfect between the intense spicy bites. Pla nung manao - STAR dish of the meal! Perfectly spicy and tangy; I didn't even know fish could be this buttery and soft. This had me looking at branzino in a whole new light, I'll be thinking about this dish for a long time. Gaeng pae - be warned, this curry is SO spicy! It was absolutely delicious though, and the sticky coconut rice is the perfect complementary vehicle for each bite. While I'm not a fan of cucumbers, the pickled cucumber that came with this dish almost changed my mind, with a tart spicy kick that paired perfectly. Shaved ice - one of the creamiest smoothest shaved ice bowls I've ever had, and certainly one of the most memorable. The coconut jelly shavings looked like Parmesan at first, giving us quite a surprise, but turned out to be absolutely delicious with the coconut ice, strawberry and pineapple sauces, and the hidden tapioca pearls on the bottom. Also, it was huge! Mine came with a candle for my birthday, which was a nice touch. Overall, Kalaya was an amazing meal that exceeded my already high expectations! I loved every bite and wished I could make my stomach twice the size to keep eating more. Hopefully I'll be able to return in the future! read more

See all

Very difficult to find parking spaces around the restaurant. It's quite hard to have a reservation here too, but it's definitely possible. We went with the tasting menu and everything is decent. To my own taste, the whole meal definitely leans more on the salty side, and Kalaya doesn't play when it comes to spice and heat so be prepared. Dark yet nice ambiance, and friendly service. read more

See all

Such a beautiful place & seems like it's always crowded. Be prepared to spend . My server was great. The one hostess with the glasses was pleasant. The other one--I can't say the same. I just couldn't remember that my reservation was at that crowded bar & was clarifying. No need for trying to flex your nonexistent muscles . The food was good, but my main dish (barramundi fish) was way too spicy --which I wish I'd asked before ordering. The pork belly was on the sweeter side and I enjoyed it. The apps were okay. I'd give this place another chance, but I'm not rushing back. read more

See all

Atmosphere & Service: I was excited to try Kalaya for dinner after hearing so many rave reviews, and it did not disappoint. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, walking us through the menu and thoughtfully explaining how to build our meal, from appetizers to entrées and sides, to complement the bold flavors and spices best. Food: We started with the Shaw Muang chicken dumplings, and they were AMAZING. I have no idea how so much flavor and spice fit into such a small dumpling, but they absolutely nailed it. This is a must-order! Seriously. For our main dishes, we chose the Gaeng Pae goat and lamb curry, accompanied by the Kalaya spice blend and toasted coconut, served with a side of turmeric rice. We also ordered the Gai Yaang Naa Por charcoal-grilled half chicken, which was generously portioned and more than enough for two people. On our server's recommendation, we added the Kalum Tod Nam Pla cabbage with fish sauce, and it turned out to be the perfect balance to the meal, cutting through the richness and rounding out the flavors nicely. I highly recommend trying out Kalaya. read more

See all

In Short: Really beautiful spot with a very attentive team and lovely flavorful food that packs a punch! Ambiance -- I came here with friends but I think the vibe of the restaurant is perfect for a date night or a special gathering! There is lush greenery all around the restaurant and the lighting incorporates both natural lighting with the big windows and roof skylight and warm mood lighting. Food: The flavors are vibrant, savory, and delicious! Some dishes will definitely pack a punch of authentic level spice so be warned and perhaps ask your server which ones are very spicy if you cannot handle the heat. The shaw muang chicken dumplings were dainty but very complex in flavor. The pla muk thod krueng fried squid was one of our favorites, being crunchy and full of umami flavor. The yum nam khao tod salad will take you on a spicy heat adventure so be warned! We also got the moo tod nam pla pork belly, gaeng gai khao min chicken curry and pu pad pong crab dish. The numeric rice in the chicken curry was delicious and the crab stir fry was a dynamic almost curry like dish which paired excellently with jasmine rice. Service: The team at Kalaya really made our lunch such a wonderful standout experience. Our server (a blonde-brunette long haired man) and the manager (blonde/brunette lovely woman) checked in with us frequently and were incredibly attentive. We also got to talk with them about some of the dishes and the background of Chef Nok which really elevated our meal and made us appreciate it all the more. read more

See all

Beautiful, bright, lively space. The chef walked the floor and checked in on every table multiple times while we dined there. Drinks were deliciously tropical but not too sweet. Everything we ate was magnificent! We asked the chef for recommendations but she told us that she doesn't have favorites. I get it! It's all too good to decide. When you're all done, the check comes out as a Thailand Passport, adorable! We packed up our leftovers and got them back to the hotel that night but forgot to put them in the fridge overnight. We were so bummed! We were looking forward to enjoying the leftovers. read more

See all

Everything at Kalaya (kah-lay-YAH) is amazing. Friday and Saturday dining requires you to order the $75/person tasting menu, and this allows you to sample the variety of flavors and dishes Kalaya has to offer. You can't go wrong with any dish, but a spicy curry followed up with a creamy nam kaeng sai (Thai shaved ice) is incredible. Standout dishes are the shaw muang (chicken dumplings), gai yaang naa por (grilled half chicken), and any flavor of shaved ice. Get a reservation one month ahead or be prepared to wait a few hours. The restaurant is spacious and pretty with a few palm trees and plants at the center of the dining room. Kalaya is a perfect restaurant to take a date or celebrate a special occasion as long as attendees are open to spicy food and a variety of Thai flavors. When in doubt, ask your server for suggestions! read more

See all

Visited Kalaya for their Kalaya x Semma collaboration dinner during the 5:30P seating it was excellent. Chef Nok touched the tables a few times and you could tell people were really enjoying their time. Most tables were full by 6:30P filling the rests with good energy. This dinner was putting together Thai and Indian dishes. I think the flavor profiles worked well together and for $125 pp, we received a lot of food! I will definitely visit again as this is one of my favorite spots. read more

See all

Excellent food and service. The Thai spices and flavors were unique and delicious. We sat at the bar and the recommendations were great. The wine pairs well with the food. Lively energetic atmosphere. Definitely will return the next time we are in Philadelphia. read more

See all

Most flavorful place we ate at in Phili! You must get both (yes both) orders of the dumplings - they were little explosions in your mouth that I still think about! The crab stir fry was my next favorite - so flavorful, chunky and bright with a good kick. The curry was good, I've had similar elsewhere. But the drinks were great as we sat at the bar. Will need a reservation in advance. My only complaint was they had no noodle dishes on the menu! Would love to see this soon but I'll still go back next time I'm in town. Great trendy vibe on the inside which made it feel elevated and a special place. read more

See all

Finally getting a reservation for Kalaya meant we took the opportunity to try this new my starred restaurant even for lunch. We sat at the bar since we were a party of 2, seeing as the reservations only allowed for parties 3+ to sit in the dining room. I appreciated the servers who were very friendly and helpful with my tasting palette needs (diary free and pescatarian) since much of the menu didn't offer much flexibility in the form of adjustments and/or were very spicy. I appreciated the tastes that came with the turmeric coconut rice and oat milk Thai tea. Also, the cashew stir fry was a welcome surprise in a dish I hadn't heard of before. Overall this was a beautiful restaurant and kind service went a long way. The food was very authentic and tasty to match Kalaya's reputation. read more

See all

We are big fans of Thai but have never been to a southern Thai restaurant before and it did not disappoint. As a group of 4 for lunch we shared the chive cakes, the goat and lamb curry (gaeng pae), goong ob woonsen without bacon, crab stir fry with egg (pu pad pong karee) and steamed whole branzino (pla nuang manao and a side of sticky rice. The chive cakes were very good, tasted like what we had in Thailand. My only minor complaint was I wanted the kecap manis to be a bit thicker for dipping. The goat and lamb curry with tumeric rice was very tasty but SMALL. It came in a tiny dish and had about 6-8 bite sized pieces of meat in it. For $35, I wanted a bigger portion. It did have good flavor and was spicy though. The woonsen was just alright, the shrimp (5) were still in the shell and didn't taste like they had any seasoning on them. The glass noodles were good but needed more flavor (maybe that is because we ordered without bacon?). I would not feel the need to order it again. The crab stir fry was delicious and quite spicy. It was tied for my favorite dish with the whole steamed branzino. Perfectly cooked and the cilantro lime broth it was served in reminded me of Fish Cheeks and Chada in NYC. For dessert we did the pineapple and coconut shaved ice (very large portion) and thai tea tiramisu (served in a small glass cup). Both were too sweet for me, but everyone at the table liked them both. The food came out at a good pace and the restaurant is pretty large, airy with a good amount of sunlight. It is nicely decorated (modern) but not fancy. The service was good, but I think they need more waiters/waitresses for the number of tables they have. read more

Yelp Review 2025 #231: Recently dubbed as one of North America's Best Restaurants this year, I was surprised I was able to get a reservation a couple of weeks in advance. The earliest reservation I could get was at 8:30pm which was pretty late for me. However, earlier dinner times became available the day of so I switched my reservation to 6:30pm. I arrived 15 minutes early. And I waited a loooong time to get seated. I watched and heard people with a 6:45pm reservation and 7pm reservation get seated before me! I kept checking with the unfriendly hostess and I kept getting the same response "we're working on getting your table ready." I finally got seated at 6:58pm despite having a 6:30pm reservation. The server, Matthew was super sweet though. He was the best part about Kalaya. He made the best recommendations, super friendly, attentive and helpful. I was watching other servers too and they were all wonderful. After placing my food order, all I had was time to watch and observe. The manager comes out to the front and the hostess miraculously switched her attitude which gave me the ick! The food was also good. Shaw Muang: Five flower-shaped dumplings with ground chicken, cucumber and thai chili. The little sliver of Thai chili packs a lot of heat which is somewhat balanced by the cooling cucumber and slightly sour sauce in the blue-colored dumpling. 5/5 Pu Pad Pong Karee: Colossal crab stir fry with egg, nam prik pao, Chinese celery and crab roe, served with jasmine rice. Generous portions of crab meat. Very tasty without being overly spicy. 5/5 Sua Rong Hai: Grilled skirt steak with nam jim jaew, served with sticky rice and crudité. I tried so hard not to order this because it's my default. But I wanted beef. Tender, flavorful but the portion is rather small. 4/5 Thai Tea Tiramisu: Whipped mascarpone, lime curd, coconut caramel. I saw a lot of people order shaved ice...and my server also recommended it but I've made up my mind on getting Thai tea tiramisu before I even got here. The lime curd and coconut took away from the Thai tea flavor. 3.5/5 I had a view of the kitchen from my table. There are trees in the middle of the restaurant. It's dimly lit which makes for a good option for a nice dinner. Get a better hostess! read more

See all

My girls have taken me here for Mother's Day and it was lovely. Service was great. Drinks were good. Food was decent. My daughters and I all agreed that it reminded us of home-cooked meals with a twist. Location wasn't in the best area of Philly but it's getting better due to gentrification. But anyway, would definitely come back. read more

See all

Beautiful ambiance and presentation. The lum Yong cocktail was absolutely delicious. One of the highlights of the night. The flower shaped chicken dumpling and the cod dumpling shaped like chickens (both are shellfish and peanut free) were beautiful. I will say that they looked better than they tasted. In particular the textures of the fillings for both wet strange. The tofu curry was spicy and flavorful. The mushroom salad was also yummy. The Thai tea tiramisu was also yummy but not what I expected. The service was good. read more

See all

Been on my list for awhile! Was super stoked to get a last minute dinner reservation for bar seats. Definitely keep alerts on for cancellations! I got the steak which was delish. Drinks were creative and fun, too. Atmosphere was lively but not ridiculously loud. Def recommend read more

Came here to celebrate a birthday and the atmosphere was lively but also intimate. Our server was great and explained how the tasting menu worked. We're glad we got the tasting menu because for two people, it was plenty. We started with the shaw muang and gui chai. Honestly, the dumplings live up to the hype. The filling is extremely flavorful and the chili is spicy but cools down with the cucumber. We liked it so much we contemplated ordering a whole separate order. The gui chai tasted like the chinese fried green chive dumplings but elevated. Crispy on the outside but soft and flavorful once you bite into it. Then we got the yum nam khao tod. This salad was so good that even though it was too spicy for me, I kept coming back for more. The textures all worked with each other too. Next we got the kua kling kra dook moo and it wasn't as spicy as we thought it would be but still good. We then had the moo wan and this string bean dish with ground pork which were pretty familiar flavors. It was pretty much braised pork belly and a stir fry. The pu pad pong karee was probably the main dish of the night that was something we haven't had before. Reasonably sized pieces of crab in a creamy spicy curry went well with the rice. I'd probably get this again. For dessert, we got the shaved ice which is more than enough for two people. It has plenty of coconut pieces, strawberry, and pineapple mixed in with their respective sauces. By this time, we were filled and since we could only pick one dessert, we opted for the thai tea tiramisu to go. I wish i could say the tiramisu was worth it but the lady fingers were really soggy and the thai tea flavor is very subtle. Though the dishes were good, a lot of flavors are really familiar. After factoring in the price, I'm glad to say I've tried Kalaya but I'm also open to trying other restaurants too. read more

See all

Food was amazing and the service was great. The ambiance was amazing and the vibe too. Food looked amazing but be warned. It can be spicy but not too crazy. A great place to start building your spice tolerance. read more

See all

Food was excellent.. the tasting menu is a great experience. Squid and river shrimp were exceptional. The frozen daiquiri is the choice to make read more

I l was finally able to snag a reservation after setting notifications on Resy and waiting for cancellations, and I'd have to say, this place definitely lived up to the hype. I had a few friends visiting from out of town and this was such a good rec (ambiance, food, service, etc) The waiter was super attentive and explained the menu in detail, even helping us determine which dishes we could order with some of our group's food restrictions. We tried a few different appetizers and entrees and the portions were definitely shareable. For apps, we shared the gui chai, khao niaw na goong, and yum kalum bplee - they were all so good. Just a disclaimer that the yum kalum bplee was pretty spicy. For entrees, we tried the khao soi nua, goong ob woonsen, and nam prik almond. My favorite was the khao soi nua which was also super spicy but so worth it! I've tried so many Thai spots before but this one truly is unique in the different flavors and variety of dishes on the menu. Excited to go back and try more of their menu! read more

See all

Great dinner experience awaits at Kalaya. Warm lighting and tropical decor set the ambiance well, and staff are attentive to make you welcome and comfortable. Depending on party size or day, you can opt for à la carte or tasting menu. My highlights from the tasting menu we chose are below. Shaw muang (flower shaped chicken dumplings serve on a cucumber) are just phenomenal. Amazing start as they came out first - warming and sweetness at first bite, and then a slow spiciness that builds up. Sai ua (pork sausage) was also just bursting with herb and spice flavors you could see, another highlight. Gaeng som pla (curry with barramundi) was also a taste defying dish with both a sharp sweet and tart initial flavor, then a long slow spice. The fish itself was very tender and absorbed all the good flavor from the curry. Great flavors and recipes, Kalaya deserves all the praise. Thanks read more

See all

We had heard amazing things about Kalaya and were very excited to dine there. The atmosphere was beautiful and the service was fairly good. We had a few excellent dishes (river prawns, dumplings, and shaved ice) but plenty of our dishes (mushroom side, crispy squid, curry sauce for the barramundi) were distractingly salty. I mentioned that one dish was very salty to our server who brushed it off and said "yeah they're so rich." I'm not sure when over salted has come to be synonymous with rich food? We barely touch the mushrooms and blotted as much curry sauce as possible as the barramundi was great but absolutely ruined by the salt. We are big Thai food fans but we found the dishes at Kalaya to be hit or miss and for the price we expected many more hits. read more

See all

We went with a group of 7 for the tasting experience and it was quite the time! With the tasting menu, you choose from the selections available and how much of that you get is based on how many are in your party. This worked out great and we had a bunch of delicious food leftover to eat the next day. The curries are where most of the heat comes from and they do not adjust spice levels. You get pickles and rice to mitigate and help with the heat. I enjoy knowing that certain things pair together like the soy sauce goes with the rice cakes (gui chai). The soy sauce is absolutely delicious! We also had the Khao now na goong for the appetizers. For dumplings, we ordered the shaw muang. We ordered the gaeng pae and gaeng gai Khao mum for the curry selection. For entrees, we ordered the beef stew. Our sides were the mushrooms and pork belly. The only thing I didn't eat was the pork belly but everything was amazing with flavor. We didn't have issues with seasonings or spices. Lastly, for dessert, we tried everything and I really loved the Thai tea tiramisu and the shaved ice. The durian is still an acquired taste but it wasn't overpowering. Everything came out hot and ready as it is a free flowing kitchen. We had a lot of fun here. It's a little loud but it works and feels very inviting. For drinks, we did some shots and I had the dao. I highly recommend coming with a ready to eat belly and good friends so you can relax and share food. Every server refilled out waters without even asking and before they were empty. We didn't lack attention to detail or requests. Great job to the staff. read more

See all

The food and service were both great. Definitely recommend this for a weekend lunch for which it wasn't hard to get a reservation. Expect the food to be spicy and deal with it / enjoy the flavors. It's flavorful spicy not the "watch how hot I can make this just because" kind of spicy. With the boom in fishtown the past 10 years it just makes finding parking a real challenge. So if driving in plan to arrive 30 mins ahead just so you can drive the neighborhood many times looking for a spot. read more

Kalaya - Pork and rice ball salad - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Went back again as they go top 50 restaurants. Ordered completely different dishes this time. The flavors are good, but still quite salty! Especially the after taste... The rice cake app was very dry crispy and sticky. The chives flavor was very pungent, and since it's deep fried after a few bites it could get greasy. Share amongst 3-4 ppl would be great. The khao soi noodles only has beef option, the beef stew was rich and super tender, with a squeeze of the lime cut through the greasy/richness, pretty good pairing. However the noodles were a bit too soft for our taste and mainly the soup was way too salty... The server was attentive but super quiet/very hard to hear him... Open &modern ambiance, good for friends gathering or dating. read more

See all

I've been to their old location in South Philly years ago and was really looking forward to coming back. The interior was very spacious, bright, and large. We thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes we ordered, the flavors were punchy and bright. Took a star off because I felt that the portions have gotten significantly smaller! I was shocked that our $30+ curry came out in such a small bowl. We also ordered the pork belly dish and were shocked to see it only come out with 4 pieces of pork belly -- perhaps I should have spoken up since I later saw other tables with the same dish and much more meat. We started with the purple dumplings (shaw muang) and the stuffing reminds me of peanut satay sauce. The steak was tender and well cooked. The pork belly curry (other than the portion size) was very good and I liked that the curry it came with was slightly sweet. The lamb & goat curry (gaeng pae) very good but very spicy and came in a small portion so just be aware. The cabbage side dish helped cut some of the heat. We also got shaved ice for dessert which was good enjoyed the fresh coconut meat and tapioca pearls on the bottom. Service was friendly as well. The flavors of each dish were good, but to be honest it was hard to justify a $200 meal for 3 when the portions were small and it definitely less value and pricier than before. read more

From start to finish this was a 10/10. We had a reservation and were seated right away. I really liked the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. The servers were very attentive and took their time explaining the menu to us. We did not know what to expect with the food because we aren't very adventurous but wow were we impressed with the flavors! We ordered the flower shaped chicken dumplings and chive rice cakes as appetizers and when I tell you that dumpling was packed with flavor! We were left speechless and we were just getting started. We then ordered the skirt steak and chicken for our main entrees and just wow. The chicken & steak were cooked to perfection and the flavors. Lastly we ordered the Thai tea tiramisu for dessert. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I'm sure we will definitely be back! read more

See all

One of my top five favorite restaurants in Philly hands-down. This place absolutely knocks Thai food out of the park and I've been craving their crab fried rice since the first time I had it in September. my husband came here for a work dinner once and finally took me here and I 100% understand the hype. The restaurant itself has such an open field to it so coming here for lunch on a warm fall day was perfect. if you cannot handle spicy food, you might struggle to find something on the menu because even the most mild of dishes like we have a tiny bit of kick to it. I was absolutely able to manage with my crab meat, fried rice, but I don't mind a tiny bit of a kick. the gui chai was deliciousssss as well so all in all, literally counting down the days to come back and try something else! read more

Key Points: -Authentic Southern Thai Cuisine - don't expect to find the typical noodle dishes like Pad Thai - Spicy yet Satisfying. The Fam and I went Kalaya for dinner after meeting with our good friend in Philly, after a fun day as the Please Touch Museum and we were in the mood for Asian cuisine. I had seen this spot on a YouTube influencer's video, which synched our decision to come here. It's Authentic Southern Thai, so don't expect your typical Pad Thai, Pad Kee Mao, or noodle dishes that we normally associate with Thai food. The place is definitely popular. We didn't have reservations, so I walked in, put our names down, and ended up waiting about 1.5 hours for our table. Luckily, The Little One was still on West Coast time and napped in the car while we waited. Just a heads-up: most dishes are very spicy, so it might not be the most kid-friendly place. That said, the servers and staff were very attentive and tried their best to accommodate The Little One with suggestions of things she might enjoy. also, our server was attentive and refilled our waters often, which we needed for the spiciness! Some highlights from our meal: - Gui Chai - Crispy chive rice cakes: reminded me of the Chinese turnip cakes I grew up with. Crispy on the outside, soft and melty on the inside. - Pla tod kamin - Wok-fried barramundi: packed with umami goodness - Kanom jeez nok - Bird-shaped dumplings: The Little One loved these! Admittedly, she liked looking at and playing with them more than eating them, but I sure devoured them! A nice sweet and savory caramelized cod filling. We also wanted to try the blue flower dumplings but didn't have room. - Gaeng pae - Goat and lamb curry: absolutely succulent and spicy! I loved it, but the Mrs and The Little One couldn't handle the heat. Overall, we left very full. We wanted to try one of the shaved ice for desserts but just didn't have room. We probably won't be back in Philly for a while, but when we are again, we'll definitely consider stopping by here. Maybe when The Little One is a bit older and can handle the more varieties of food. read more

See all

Fantastic food that truly lived up to the hype. I've been meaning to try this place for years but only get the chance whenever I come back to Philly to visit family for the holidays, so I finally made it work the week of this last thanksgiving and am so happy I did. To start, our cocktails were well crafted and tasty without being overly sweet. Went with two of my friends who live in the city and we opted for the Taste of Kalaya menu, which at $75 a person gives an awesome amount of food, especially if you're an odd sized group (compared to an even sized group). I want to go into detail about all the food but I wouldn't want to bore you with an essay; overall, everything we had was beautifully prepared and delicious. Hard to pick from all the food items but some of the standouts were the incredibly rich and flavorful but super super spicy goat and lamb curry, which comes in what looks like a small portion but packs a huge punch, pairing well with the coconut sticky rice its served with. The sua rong hai (also known as crying tiger, grilled sliced steak) was a perfectly rare and juicy with a delicious salty savory spicy dipping sauce. The moo wan pork belly was also melt in your mouth tender and addictingly, and it's only a side (a side that's better than most restaurants entrees)! The brown butter giant prawn was tasty and beautifully presented but a bit overpowering on the brown butter, although the tangy sweet sauce it came with did help cut it a bit. The dry curry pork ribs were very tender and spiced well but too salty for us even with rice; maybe half the salt and I think it would've been perfect. To finish, we got the Thai tiramisu which I loved and the durian sticky rice for my friend; I hate durian so i won't review that dish but my friend who has never had durian said it was interesting and the coconut and sticky rice helped mellow out the durian flavor. Overall, the three of us had a fantastic, both visually and taste wise, meal here that is more than worth the wait and the price. If you haven't been already, make sure to come try Kalaya before it gets even more and more popular and hard to get a spot! read more

See all

My girlfriends and I brought NYE in Kalaya and it was a great experience! The food was so flavorful! We love spicy, so was great for us. The waiters seated us immediately and the restaurant was buzzing from the moment we walked in. It's busy but thoughtful in nature. Highlights were the chicken dumplings, shrimp/rice appetizer, curry chicken, and tiramisu! read more

See all