We went to Kaun Khmai and I was honestly so blown away by the food that I now want to do a tasting menu at Khmai! This restaurant was incredible and is easily in my top 3 restaurants in Chicago. It's super cute inside, very ambient with the lit up green lights at the bar. The staff were so friendly and helpful, explaining the menu. The menu is SO vegetarian friendly!! And gluten friendly as well, just make sure you ask and they can make tweaks. Everything had such a rich profile flavor - savory, salty, sweet, spicy. I love the use of lemongrass! We tried as many things as we could fit - the mango salad (nyorm svai), bok tropp, chien trop, amok tawhou. I would've loved to try dessert but this was genuinely soo much food! They give big portions. It's hard to pick favorites because I would order everything again, but the bok tropp might take the gold. The eggplant was perfectly crispy and the sauce that came with it... insane!! Also even though we were in the more informal side, the presentation for all the dishes would beautiful. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

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I've come here for happy hour, dinner, and brunch, but this review is specifically for brunch. We arrived around 12 PM and were seated right away. No reservations are needed for brunch. We ordered the Nyom Svai, Mee Kola, Loaded Rice Bowl with Chicken, Cha Mee Katang (with added fried egg and shrimp), and a Pandan Waffle Side. Everything had great flavors, and we enjoyed almost every dish. The Nyom Svai was a great salad paired with fried tilapia, and the Mee Kola had a similar flavor profile. Both dishes were colorful and full of flavor. The Cha Mee Katang was delicious and definitely one of the hits of the meal. We also really enjoyed the Loaded Rice Bowl, and the cheese was especially good with the rice. The only miss for me was the Pandan Waffles. The waffle fell a little flat and seemed slightly undercooked. The mango and pineapple were a nice addition, though, and the ube syrup went well with the fruit and waffle. Service here is calm and relaxed. They give you time to eat and enjoy your food, but they're always checking in to make sure you have everything you need. Overall, it's a nice spot for a relaxed brunch with plenty of interesting dishes to try. read more

Khmai - Pandan waffle side - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was our first time dinning at Khmai and we will definitely be returning. We were a bit apprehensive, we had dined at the chefs previous restaurant Khmer twice and both visits were a disaster, not because of the food but the terrible service. The front of house was a completely disorganized mess that really let the kitchen down. We needn't have worried, the service at this new restaurant/location was absolutely top notch. Everyone that helped us was personable and knowledgeable, our server Ava was really great, a real asset to Khmai. My wife opted for the "funky" chefs menu, I tried the "mild" menu. All 8 courses were tasty, nicely presented and surprisingly large for a tasting menu, you will need to loosen your belts!!! I enjoyed all the courses except the salmon curry, the curry was lovely but to both of us it didn't work with the salmon, a milder white fish would have been a better choice. Other than that we both thoroughly enjoyed the bread course, fish cake, fried fish, chicken wing, pork belly, papaya salad, bone marrow and the dessert. The cocktails were excellent. The wine list needs work, it only had 3 options, although the albarino we had was excellent. How about expanding to 6 whites, 6 reds, a rose and some sparkling wine? The "family meal" looked very interesting, next time we'll probably try that, although the tasting menu changes every 3 months, each menu coming from a different region of Cambodia. Lovely food, vastly improved service and pleasant surroundings, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. read more

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We had a great experience at Khmai! The food was very fresh and flavorful. The service was friendly and very professional. The staff was able to accommodate many dietary restrictions we had amongst our group which was so helpful! They created separate sauces for vegan vs non-vegan and even placed different meats on the side. Overall, we were satisfied with our meal! read more

Khmai - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm inclined to say this is a hidden gem, but I don't think it's hidden more than just I never go this far north. So instead I'll say, it's worth the trip! I'd never had Cambodian food and this was a wonderful way to experience it. To start, our server was excellent. I don't remember her name, but she was so energetic and funny and joyful. Cocktails were awesome as well, I could have stayed all night and drank through the menu. We had 4 people and did the family style meal. What a steal! We had sooooo much food. Let's see what I can remember... - The sauce with the bread service was divine - Chicken egg rolls were so yummy - The fried eggplant appetizer was honestly possibly my favorite dish of the night - Papaya salad was fresh and delicious, though it came with shrimp instead of the listed fried tilapia - 2 dips, one eggplant and one spicy pork, with a tray of fruits and veggies. I don't eat pork but I enjoyed dipping the mango in the spicy sauce around the pork. And the eggplant dip was like a baba ganoush but totally different flavor profile - really surprising - Salmon entree was YUM tied with the fried eggplant for my favorite dish - Chicken curry was lacking tbh, not nearly as good as the salmon and had no spice. Definitely get it with rice instead of bread We left absolutely stuffed. My only complaint is that we were really oversold on the "funk" and spice - our server talked a lot about things being fermented or sour or spicy or fishy, and we didn't really feel that with any dish. She got us hyped for an authentically funky experience, and while it was great food, it was definitely not funky...at least for an adventurous eater like me! read more

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Wonderful and authentic Cambodian food! I grew up on Cambodian food so I'm quite familiar with the taste and flavors. If you haven't tried before, I think this will be a great place to try it because it is so different from other Asian cuisines. This place was full on a Friday night - which is a great sign! I enjoyed the easy reservation system and the friendly service. Our host and server were so kind. The steak skewers were the standout - very yummy, flavorful and tender. Eggrolls were pretty straightforward, so I would probably skip these next time. I loved the curry (Somlor Kari) cause it had all the flavors. Comes with bread to dip up all the yumminess! The Sach Ko Ang was good too - lots of smoky flavors - kinda like bbq. Large portion size for both but I never complain about this. Overall, great experience and happy with it all! Can't wait to come back and try other dishes. read more

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Had a wonderful Mother's day dinner here with the family. There are two dining spaces at this restaurant: normal ala carte area and the fine dining space. There was only availability for the fine dining seating so we opted to get 2 family meals and try one of each dish. First off, I loved that each dish was unapologetically flavorful. I have never had Cambodian cuisine but the incorporation of fresh fruits, raw and soured veggies, and funky fish paste made everything taste authentic. The only thing that could use some improvement would be the organization. There were maybe 2 or 3 dishes not available so we had to double up on things. In my experience with coursed meals especially with a reservation made in advance, I think this needs to be accounted for. I would understand if I were ordering ala carte. Also, the pacing of the courses felt a little awkward. At times many of the empty dishes were not promptly cleared from the table. Our utensils were cleared and we still had one course remaining, which was fine because we were all so full anyways. They were nice enough to pack it to go. Overall, the family meal was HUGE. Definitely worth the price. I will be returning for the ala carte experience and happy hour to enjoy some more traditional Cambodian food. My favorite was the nyom svai, mango salad with chili fish sauce, topped with a fried tilapia. read more

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Went here early (5pm) on a Saturday with no reservations as we had someplace to be at 7 and didn't want to take a chance of not getting a table. We wanted to eat at the more casual side and had no problem being seated. A few other tables were already occupied so we were glad we came early. Full disclosure- we are not new to Cambodian food as there was a fantastic Cambodian restaurant in Cleveland when we lived there years ago. Anyway, it's very pretty inside this venue and all the greeters and waitstaff were sweet and helpful. We got 2 appetizers and one of the medium sized items and that was more than enough food for the 2 of us. Cocktails were good- I had the take on a Moscow mule and it was very tasty. My husband had a spicy red cocktail and he liked it. The eggplant appetizer (sorry forgot the name) was my favorite dish of the night and it was also surprisingly huge- we took some home. It was not spicy hot but deliciously flavored, not greasy at all, and came with a delicious sauce. We also got the eggrolls which were only ok- outside was nice and crispy but the filling was just mushy chicken and fairly tasteless- would not get again. We also ordered a noodle dish and chose shrimp as the protein. It was good- a little spicy but not too much and had good flavor and lots of veggies. Took some of that home as well. Price point is on the high side and happy hour was not available. We would come back and try some different dishes except for the eggplant- would definitely get that again! read more

Khmai - Noodle dish with shrimp - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is the first time I've had Cambodian food, and I'm glad to try it out. Kroeung is in a lot of dishes and is a foundational herb with spices like Lemongrass, galangal, tumeric, garlic. The dishes we tried had similar notes to other SE Asian delicacies but a little different flavor profiles and styles. It was a little funky with the fermented fish paste but in a good way. The Trei Chien- fried red snapper was awesome. The market price we paid was $45 and was tasty with the mango salad and fresh herbs. The Katang was almost like a Thai Pad Sie Iew with the wide noodles. I craved a bit of spice with it. The Amok Tawhou was like a curried tofu, the little bamboo box it came in was cute. I enjoyed the Kapi Ktiss with rice instead of just the raw veg to cut the saltiness of the fermented paste. Service was a bit slow and the main server seemed a little over whelmed. But overall it was a good experience and I'm glad we went. read more

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The food is great. The flavors are bright and vibrant and the dishes are well prepared. Our server was personable, engaged, and appropriately solicitous. So what went wrong? We deliberately made our reservation for Sunday night so we could order the tasting menu. The reservation was confirmed and we received a reminder on the day of. Long story short, Khmai didn't have enough reservations to open the dining room so our reservation was canceled and moved to Khaun Khmai without informing us. To make matters worse, the young man working FOH tried to ineptly gaslight us into thinking it was the same. The meal was very good but it was not the experience we expected and looked forward to. I feel that the management made a serious mistake in not informing us as soon as they made the decision to not open the fine dining room. read more

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2026: A new year & Chef Mona is bringing all the flavor from different provinces of Cambodia. My husband and I came in for dinner, and as always, Khmai blew us away again! The drinks at the bar are always so good, with complementing and light flavors that deceptively cloy the taste of alcohol, which is surprising because they are strong. We had the Love Island and I forgot the name of the second drink, but it had strawberries with a light spiciness at the end, and they were delicious. For apps we always go with our favorites: Mai's Eggrolls, Sach Ko Ja Kak (Steak skewers), and Sach Morn Ampil (Lemongrass & Tamarind fried wings). When I see ANY of these items on the menu, I don't hesitate to order ESPECIALLY the wings.... crispy whole wings and that sauce is to die for! On to the entrees! - First up was the Sach Ko Ang, which are beef ribs of Flinstones proportions that have been braised for 10 hours.... Let me tell you, the meat is fall off of the bone with crispy end bits, and the sauce was also soooo good. Don't let me lie, we were slightly intimidated when they came out, but all reservations were gone once we dug in, and asked for extra napkins (you'll need them, lol). We also had the Sach Chrouk Ampil (pork ribs), which were tender, but also with an extra crispy bite and a sauce that is sweet and spicy. We also tried one of the soups, Somlor Machu, that contained chicken, shrimp, and veggies in a light but highly flavorful broth. Dessert came around, and we got to try a hand-whipped Ube mousse, a durian brownie, and a sweet black-eyed pea dessert. Do not let me lie, that black eyed pea dish was REALLY good, and I kept going back for more, but my absolute favorite was the Ube mousse. Good flavor without being crazy oversweet, and super creamy. We also enjoyed the Durian brownie, which is not a mix I thought would go together, but surprisingly complemented one another beautifully. As always the ambiance is great, and the wait staff are very knowledgeable, kind, patient, and helpful. Chef Mona is always a treat to see, and makes sure that all of her patrons leave full and happy with a smile on their faces. Khmai is always a special and welcoming restaurant with a menu that rotates, and does a phenomenal job at showcasing the bold and funky flavors of Cambodian food! read more

I've never had Cambodian food before so I didn't know what to expect, but this place definitely impressed me and then some. The atmosphere of this place feels upscale while the food still feels very comfortable and Asian. While the prices are a bit higher than what you would usually expect from southeast Asian cuisine, it does make up for it in presentation, taste, and overall style. You can't go wrong with what your waiter recommends, as I remember everything tasted super good and had a flavor profile that I definitely was not used to. This place is truly a gem in Chicago. read more

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This was my very first time trying Cambodian food, and it blew me out of the water. The food was extremely flavorful and the value of the dishes good for the price for each dish. This was perfect for family style. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. I wanted to plan a second visit before I even left! My favorite was definitely the national dish of noodles. The fish broth has so much fish pieces in it, it was so good. And the broth wasn't even fishy! read more

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Beautiful space, warm service and delicious food. We shared the Chien Trapp, Bai with pork shoulder and steak and Nvom Svai. Our favorite was the Chien Trapp, which was an assortment of fried vegetables with a delicious sauce. The Nyom Svai was also delicious and refreshing with the salad. The fish was perfectly fried and tasty. The Bai had potential but the proteins were a little overcooked. I would definitely come back to try other items on the menu. read more

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First time trying Cambodian food and everything was delicious! I don't remember what we ordered but I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. This place is family style so definitely recommend getting a few dishes to share. read more

My family and I were in town for the Chicago Marathon and stopped by Khmai for our post-marathon celebration dinner. As a Cambodian-American I take pride in the food and culture that my ancestors gifted to us and was extremely thrilled to learn that there was Cambodian food just a few minutes away from our hotel! We made reservations online because our large party (we had six people and wanted to secure a spot). We were welcomed inside by the friendly staff and quickly seated. The wait staff were very kind, personably, friendly and easy to talk to. The restaurant features a bar area for drinks and tv / sports watchers as well as a dining area for guests. There is also another larger room for private parties or fine dining experience as well. My family and I ordered the Mai's Eggrolls and Chien Tropp (eggplants). Both very delicious and full of flavor! We loved the chien tropp and the delicious sauce (roasted tomato kreung) it came with to compliment the entire dish. For the main entrees, my kids ordered the Cha Mee Katang (Chicken) and they loved it! My husband ordered the Cha Mee Katang (Tofu) and he was super impressed as well. I ordered the Amok (with Salmon) and it was so yummy. I loved that the Amok was also available in Tofu for my Vegetarian husband. The dinner table was VERY quiet as we delved into our plates and enjoyed the flavors that reminded me of my motherland! For dessert, my kids ordered the coconut ice cream and my husband and i ordered the sticky rice flan dish. Overall, a wonderful time and I can't wait to come back to share more memories and flavors with my friends and family! read more

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Takes credit card. Can make reservation online or walk in. It's better to make a reservation. There are 2 establishments that are next to each other. Khmai- is the fine dining option, but is currently closed for renovations. Kaun khmai is the casual reservation. Excellent service. Coming from Long Beach, CA where Cambodian flavor are abundant, the food here is exquisite. Nom krouk ($9)- an appetizer with 2 small crab cakes over a crunch bread. It's a lot of multiple flavors. Kapi khour Cheng ($12)- the bone marrow The bone marrow dish was super super tasty. Well cooked with grill flavor. Bai sach ($25)- the grilled pork shoulder was a mix. Some parts were grilled perfectly, soft, nice char on the outside with fatty flavor, other parts was too thin and over cooked. Somlar Kari $27- the chicken curry. It's a huge pot of coconut curry, large chunks of soft potatoes and carrots which are so soft. The onions are soft and blend in with the curry. It comes with bread and extremely filling. Jackfruit soda ($3.75)- they make in house and is really good Rambutan spritzer ($3.75)- very refreshing. read more

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Everytime I go to Khmai I leave full and happy. it's a great addition to Roger's Park especially since there are not many sit down restaurants. The tasting journey is something extremely unique. My favorite dishes are the Somlar Machu Kreoung, Sach Ko Ja Kak and the Sach Ko tuk prahok. I had never had Cambodian food before I tried it and it has changed my thoughts about cuisine all together. read more

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My mother is from Cambodia so while visiting Chicago, we figured why not try this place. I have followed them since they opened on Instagram and was really excited to give it a try. We ordered the slaw Maju and to our surprise it did not have the ingredients as the authentic would have but the flavor was there. We also had the beef skewer which was on the sweeter side and have peanuts, I guess for decoration. But did not have the lemon grass flavor as the traditional. The service was on point. The mock tails were absolutely tasty. It was small dining area but the ambience was chill.. read more

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Such a nice find. The place itself is nice and the staff makes you feel welcomed. I loved that the plating felt like a fancy downtown spot but the vibe was much more relaxed. It's a great go to for a "nice" dinner without the drive. Everything we ordered was delicious. read more

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This restaurant was great. The wait staff are very attentive and work well together. The food was supper delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Not a big fan of the three dip course. Otherwise, everything was great. You'll want a reservation for the weekend, as it was quite full. read more

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Truly a gem in Chicago! We had the vegetarian tasting menu and the food was delicious and interesting, unlike any other restaurant we have been to. Highly recommend! read more

Finally visited Khmai's fine dining side of the house last night after looking forward for many months! My friend and I ordered several (4 I believe) dishes to share and two drinks each, and after tip it is about $100 per person. We decided not to do the prix fixe because of some allergy limitations. We really enjoyed our meal. The curry that is available with either salmon or tofu was outstanding. We chose tofu and I really enjoyed it. We also really liked a rambutan cocktail that was a special. It's a longer dining experience as well, so be aware of that. For us it was about exactly two hours. The biggest area of improvement I see is a subjective one. I think the space really needs some adjustments. It's a large beautiful room but it's a bit awkward because the space isn't broken up enough and you can see and hear way too much. Here are some possible suggestions the restaurant may way to look into to warm up the space and create more privacy: - lower the embedded lighting, or turn it off altogether and add more hanging lights or tabletop lighting -add more fabric wherever you can to absorb more noise. Perhaps some heavy curtains over the white part of the external wall -add a large piece of furniture or some kind of sculpture or something towards the center of the room. Even the use of some silk screens or drapes to section off the space more -the middle row of tables being weirdly off kilter is strange in the space. Break it up into two rows perhaps or try staggering them somehow to make it less sterile Overall a REALLY great meal. I hope to return to the more casual restaurant soon to try that menu. read more

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We probably should have made a reservation but we were able to find seating at the bar which worked just fine. Food was flavorful and delicious, the staff was kind and very helpful with selecting both drinks and food. The waiter even mixed up the side to our dish (we wanted rice instead of bread but got bread) and another waiter overheard and brought rice even without being asked. read more

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They don't take brunch reservations so we walked in at 12 and were the first people there. The ambiance is beautiful and service was so nice. We got the Kari Sach Morn (chicken curry), Bobor (porridge), pandan waffle with coconut ginger syrup and Ube cold brew. The coffee was delicious, you can still taste the coffee through the Ube syrup. The pandan waffle was also a fav dish, it's not very sweet so you need the "syrup" which is more like a coconut cream. I don't like ginger so I liked how subtle the ginger flavor was. The fresh fruit was a nice touch too. I thought the porridge could have had more flavor, but it was very filling and reminded me a lot of Chinese congee. It also comes with a variety of toppings: hoisin, sriracha, lime and soybean. The curry was savory and the chicken was super tender, but would've been better over rice imo. Overall a very solid and filling meal! Everything was presented beautifully and prices were very reasonable. read more

Khmai - Pandan waffle - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday on a Sunday. We made reservation in case but honestly, I think you can come without one. The restaurant itself it's beautiful inside. They did a great job displaying Cambodian culture. I do wished they played Cambodian music instead of American music. The service was so great. Our waitress was so sweet and did an amazing job explaining our dish. The food was amazing. We thought the portion would be small but the portion is amazing. Definitely will be coming back to try other dishes. read more

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The food is magnificent having traveled to Cambodia multiple times. I find the food to be authentically delicious. The service is great they always greet you at the door with the traditional wai both hands clasped a bow greeting you with " Jum teapsua. They dress Khmer traditional. I love this place read more

Khmai - A traditional khmer painting - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sach Ko Ja Kak - the grilled skirt steak skewers were tender, juicy, and very flavorful Nyom Svai - the shredded mango salad was really good and has a refreshing taste Cha Mee Katang - it reminds me of pad see ew but the noodles are softer, we got it with chicken and there was more chicken than noodles Prahok ktiss - this was surprisingly good, ground pork and minced pork belly dip, it does have fermented fish sauce, the smell of it is stronger than it tastes, you get to choose your spice level 1-4, we chose 2, really enjoyed eating it with the veggies, not so much with the fruit, very small scoops of the dip needed since it's very dense in flavor Service here is great! They have a lot of servers and they are very attentive to your needs. For two people, we ordered 2 taste bites (appetizers), 1 small bite (medium size dish), and 1 share bite (large dish). It was plenty of food. We ended up taking home some leftovers bc we were so full. read more

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This place is so special, our experience was memorable and positive. The wait staff were great, professional and I just love the clothes they wore lol Okay to the food! Unique and delicious flavors- the stuffed pancakes were our absolute favorite- Ive never had anything like it, it was on point. And the duck was also a favorite! The short rib wasnt so short lol but it was good. I look forward to going back and trying different dishes. Side note: we had a two year old with us and the servers were very patient with him. They got us a high chair and just let him make a mess like kids do. And that's worth to mention. read more

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Amazing food and fast service and the egg rolls are amazing and beef stewers are good read more

Khmai - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This review is for Kaun Khmai (the casual side with Cambodian street food style bites). Was so excited to try Kaun Khmai after seeing it on the Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit list and noting that the chef was a James Beard semifinalist a few years back! I had been to Cambodia over a decade ago, but sadly don't remember the food being a highlight that trip. Kaun Khmai totally changed my perspective on Cambodian food! The waitstaff is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Simple but fun decor and maybe 8-10 small tables + bar seating. Tapas style share plates and I think it's currently BYOB. After hearing some recs, my brother and I decided to share 4 dishes -- Mai's egg rolls (not pictured), sach ko ja kak (2 skewers), kapi khuor cheng (under the speciality dips), and nyrom svai (similar to Thai papaya salad). We were STUFFED at the end and took half the papaya salad home. Skewers came out first and they were DIVINE! Soooo flavorful and melt in your mouth tender, and the pickled(?) shredded veggies on the side were the perfect compliment. I would definitely be back for these! Dip was next and we definitely thought it was going to be some kind of sauce like dip but turned out this was more of like a French dip situation? good but not a ton of bone marrow. Egg rolls are apparently either made by chef's mom or mom's recipe, but they came out piping hot! Taste was good, but texture surprised me as inside was heavier on the taro paste and I didn't get much of an impression of the ground chicken. Freshly fried spring rolls are always a winner though. Last but not least, the papaya-salad like dish -- very refreshing! Was not wowed by the fried tilapia, but the salad itself was the best medley of sour/vinegary + mango sweet tastes and different crunch textures! I would also reorder this again in the future. (Note that this did come out a good 15ish+ minutes after the other dishes.) If it's not evident by now, my bro and I enjoyed our experience here! Would be back and with more friends to try more dishes! Mocktails were also good but they would be even better as cocktails haha read more

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Excellent food and service! it was my first time trying Cambodian food and our server Dakota couldn't have been any more helpful. He was very knowledgeable and charismatic about the food and did a great job guiding us through the menu of what to try and flavors to expect. Every dish was tasty and unique to my pallet. I especially liked the mango salad which was tangy and refreshing. I Look forward to coming back to try more dishes. read more

Khmai - Mango salad - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent experience The staff explained the menu made a couple of awesome suggestions for dinner. Loc lac Thea was outstanding great flavors. A unique dish Pathos ktiss was a highlight for me. I would recommend coming with a group and plan to share as much as you can. Great service too read more

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We had a wonderful dinner here! We had the crab pancakes, steak skewers, bone marrow dip, flintstone steak, salmon, and mango salad. Every item was delicious and unique. I really don't think you can go wrong. The menu is big enough that I want to come back soon to try new things. Our server Charlie was knowledgeable and made sure we had a great experience. It's cute and authentic inside. Decent paid street parking outside. I hope to come back soon. Also sleeper hit was the dessert ube mouse. read more

Khmai - Inside area - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best meal I've experienced in Chicago and probably the best deal in town, $100 for a tasting menu that makes you feel like you've traveled to Cambodia for the evening.... Service was spectacular, knowledgeable, fun, and so attentive. The food... we got the funky menu and it was a delight. If you're not afraid of spice, if you crave something new with every bite, if you want to learn... this is the place! I can't wait to come back and explore the menu further! read more

Khmai - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I haven't done a Yelp review in a while but this place was pretty special so I wanted to make sure that it gets the attention that it deserves. It's unfortunate that they essentially went with the same name for both sides of the restaurant and in fact, when I made my reservation I accidentally made it for the wrong one. We ate at Khmai, which is the fine dining side. Luckily there were open tables so I was able to move my reservation from the more casual Kaun Khmai. You might want to double check if you use their online reservation system. We had the vegetarian tasting menu (they also have à la carte dishes) and it was both fantastic and unique. Not unique in a pretentious way but foods that maybe tasted only a bit similar to other cuisines (a green curry for example that was Thai-like but different), had tons of flavor and were presented in cool, creative ways. Jackfruit, eggplant, tofu and enoki mushrooms were among the main ingredients. It felt like a lot of food and was a steal at $75 per person. I think it's essentially BYOB but it's got some creative cocktails, and I don't mean creative as in just another take on a margarita. I had a gin/coconut/lemongrass drink that was really distinctive. Not sure I'd drink them all night but fun to try something different. The atmosphere is cute but not pretentious, the design and dinnerware felt right and the servers were both attentive and a little funky (again, not in a pretentious way). I sample a lot of great meals in Chicago but if you're looking for a nice place to take someone that's not just another take on Italian (not that there's anything wrong with that) this is a place that's definitely worth supporting. It's maybe a slightly strange location (bottom of a hotel on Sheridan, near Loyola) but worth a trip. read more

Khmai was such a surprise. The food was so unique, flavorful, and delicious. There is nothing else like it in Chicago. The tasting menu changes frequently, so we can only speak of the one we tried. We also ordered a couple appetizers from the street food menu, which were incredible. read more

Cambodian food in Rogers Park, Chicago? Sure, but GREAT Cambodian? I never would have guessed it, but somehow Kaun Khmai wound up in the unlikliest place and we were passing by and stopped in. Khmai is a fine dining restaurant open Fri-Sun only (you need a reservation!), but right beside it is Kaun Khmai, its casual twin, open Wed-Sun with more appetizers and smaller portions (and they take walk-ins!). Highlights were the Bai Bampoung fried coconut croquettes, and the Nam Kapong mini muffins stuffed with mung beans and taro root, green onions, and licama. Both were a bright mix of sweet and savory, and the Nam Kapong was a bit spicy. The Nyom Sval papaya salad was impressive because of its perfectly balanced papaya slices drenched in a sweet/sour dressing, but it had a HUGE filet of fried tilapia riding atop, and it was perfectly tender and flaky. The food was so good, there was no room for dessert! Wow, this place was amazing. If you haven't stopped in, you are totally missing out on some of the best food in Rogers Park, hands down. We're already making plans to stop in again. read more

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Heavenly! Never fails to amaze. Your taste buds will dance with delight! Staff is ever welcoming and knowledgeable. Every bite is garden of Eden fresh. Transporting! read more

Khmai was a bit of a hike for me from Humboldt Park but didn't disappoint. I haven't had Cambodian food before but given the other cuisines in the region, figured I'd love it. The mocktails were excellent - we got the spicy mango and the ginger. For Apps, the mango salad was excellent and the pork shoulder was delicious as well. I liked the Pork Belly dip, but probably wouldn't get that format of dip again. The servers were very knowledgeable and friendly. It's a really nice space to go eat at but affordable enough that it doesn't have to be a super premium night out. read more