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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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
5 months ago
5 months ago
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2 years ago
We had dinner here a few nights ago. The formal side is very elegant and the servers have such incredibly lovely uniforms. Everyone is super nice too! We ordered a number of different dishes, per the recommendations of our server. From the egg rolls, steak skewers to start. We also ordered a salad, the stir fry noodles with chicken, chicken curry and a salmon wrapped in banana leaf. Everything was family style. I took a star away, as the pacing of the dishes was quite odd, we received all our dishes within a 30 min window of ordering and the I swear it was at least another 30-35 minutes to get our last dish, the noodles. Also there is such little rice given, I guess I could have ordered another side dish of rice but for the size of the dishes, you'd think more rice would accompany some of the mains. Especially since they boast it's family style. My favorite dishes were the egg rolls and steak skewers. I had never had Cambodia food before, I'm glad we tried it. Very unique flavors. Very good. The food is reminiscent of Thai, Filipino, and Vietnamese. read more
It's cool that they're the only traditional Cambodian restaurant in Chicago, and they really highlight that in the interior decor, staff attire, and of course the dishes, whose flavors emphasize the sour, umami, fishy notes of most Southeast Asian cuisines. My group of 10 made a reservation for the street food side which required a deposit of $10 per person, but you can also just walk in. The fine dining side is on a completely separate side of the restaurant and requires reservations. While the portions aren't large, they were larger than I expected and we were all decently full after sharing 8 dishes. All of the dishes we ordered were tasty; none of them missed. Of them, the nyorm svai (mango salad with fish), loc lac (pepper beef), and sach chrouk chin (pork belly) dishes stood out to me. The food came out quickly, the staff helped explain the food brought out, and the final price was also reasonable / lower than expected considering the ambience and dish quality/presentation-- $25 pp! Overall would recommend and I'd also want to try out their fine dining menu sometime in the future! read more
We had dined at their old location and were excited to come back. We sat on the casual side and found that the service and food were still friendly and warm. In general, Service is much better than at the previous establishment where we waited a long time between each dish. All of the items we had were very tasty, but we were disappointed that one item we wanted was sold out, so I recommend putting in your order right away if you have your heart set on something. Across-the-board, we thought the small plates were much better than the entrée items. It's currently BYOB and that's a great cost savings. There is a large bar in the restaurant so I assume they submitting for a liquor license. The only negative is that the prices are a bit steep, and we understand that it reflects the current cost of food, but this means we will save it for a special occasion. read more
Going to start with five stars since this is just grand (re)opening weekend for Khmai (fine dining) and this new casual cousin Kaun Khmai. Kaun Khmai offered an abbreviated menu of shared plates generally in the $15 range with some smaller in portion size and others larger. We went with four choices for our party of five to try (bai bampoung (coconut fritters), trei bampoung (catfish), nyorm chek (chicken papaya salad), and the prahok ktiss (a pork chili of sorts served with raw vegetables and fruits). We finished with the pandan cake, while the lychee puff pastry dessert was out. A complimentary mango mousse dessert was offered by the chefs for Father's Day. Two in our party did order mocktails (lychee sour and tropical medley) in the range of $15. I didn't get a chance to try the drinks myself so, I can't comment directly. Liquor license is pending so drink options will expand. This was Sunday night and street parking meters do turn over, but parking is available west of Sheridan on Loyola that isn't residential permit only just a two block walk away. read more
7 months ago
Nice staff and good food. Bad management of wait times. The tilapia appetizer could have been an entree. The tofu dish was amazing with a fresh and interesting profile plus flavorful rice. Odd that the large main dining room is only used a few nights a week for fine dining and the bistro side was packed with a line. read more
6 months ago
During summer it's not considered fine dining but the food is excellent! Great servers that are friendly. For starters had the eggrolls and sach ko ja kak, both are really good! Chae Mee noodles with chicken was very tasty and perfect amount for our kids to share. Pakong ktiss are huge and spicy. Sach koh tuk prahok was huge and flavorful. Last dish we tried was Somlor Kari which was good but on the sweeter side got a curry. For four people we ordered more than enough and took home leftovers. This place is on my favorites list! read more
2 years ago
This restaurant is absolutely stunning and I am so glad I was able to experience this cuisine! I ordered the tropical medley mocktail which was refreshing with watermelon juice, pineapple juice, and jackfruit. The small bite we tried was called the Sach Ko ja Kak and the marinade on the beef was incredible and cooked tender. The homemade noodle dish was outstanding and loved how authentic it tasted. We absolutely loved the attention the servers and staff gave us, our water cup was always full. Highly recommend to check this fine dining restaurant and can't wait to come back to try their street food! read more
2 years ago
Absolutely love this place. My neighbor raved about their food and service, so I had to try it, and they definitely did not disappoint. The staff wears traditional outfits, which adds a nice touch to the overall aesthetic. Their service was superb, and our waitress was so friendly--the way she described the different dishes made me want to try them all. Yes, we did ordered more than we could handle. The food was delicious and flavorful. Highly recommended for adventurous foodies or those who have had Laotian food before. I brought my picky mom here for her birthday, and she loved it and wants to come back with our cousins. Definitely coming back for more. read more
1 year ago
10 months ago
1 year ago
Great experience, the staff is very well trained and versed in the Khmer language. The food was nice and potent, just as authentic as it can be. Wonderful flavors. Chef Mona was awesome to meet. Very humble and is bringing every aspect of Cambodia to the table. We're going back for brunch! Edit: We went back for brunch and with a special request, Chef Mona and her mom made us Somlar Machu Sach Ko off the menu. Amazing! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
GO HERE!! My family and I had the absolute best time. Everyone had such fun and welcoming energy. They were also so helpful with recommendations. Vibes were so chill and laid back. I'm honestly so upset I live on the other side of town, otherwise I'd be here every week! What to order: anything and everything. You seriously cannot go wrong with any dish. I'm not kidding! Everything is perfectly seasoned, the flavor profiles are balanced. Each dish got better and better. We didn't get to try dessert because we ordered too much, but the dessert menu looks amazing too!! I also think the menu rotates so what we ordered wasn't on the menus that other people posted. I can't wait to go back!! read more
2 years ago
Fabulous brunch at Khmai. Huge portions. Beautiful presentation. Attentive service. Delicious food. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I attended the opening night of Khmai, the fine-dining Cambodian restaurant that relocated from their previous spot on Howard, to Sheridan Road by the Hampton Inn. I then stopped in for an appetizer at their casual spot next door, Kaun Khmai. Every single aspect of my meal tonight, from the genuinely compassionate hospitality of the staff, to the outstanding flavors and presentation of my dishes? Blew my mind, expanded my palate, and warmed my heart. Upon entering the restaurant, I was warmly greeted by the hostesses in Cambodian, and was led into a dining room that immediately felt regal. A beautiful mural of a dancer was painted on the main wall, creating a dramatic and enchanting energy for the room. Each table was adorned with gold plates and cutlery, building upon the established majestic nature of the environment. The restaurant was exceedingly helpful in attending to any possible dietary restrictions. Additionally, the servers knew the intricacies of each dish - providing historical and culinary information that was extremely helpful learning more about the cuisine. read more
We sat on side that required reservations and was able to get seated without having to make one ahead of time. The servers are trained to speak in khmer and well versed on everything from the menu. Our favorite was the catfish dip as it had a lot of nice umami flavors. Their starter is a bread that comes with a lemongrass dip that was so delicious we wish we had more. Their ambiance is also very traditional with a slightly modern take. Really liked how well supplied their bathrooms were with toiletries. Would definitely come back to try the menu on their casual side of the restaurant. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
10 months ago
8 months ago
We had an amazing experience dining at Khmai. My wife, daughter and I all had the six course tasting menu. It was truly an experience that seemed to transport us to Cambodia. Our server described every single course in detail and told us the order in which to sample the dish in order to maximize the flavor. She was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about everything. We also had mixed drinks at the bar and our experience there was also top notch. The decor was fantastic and the artist who drew the artwork on the wall was also there to assist. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the owner, Mona Sang, outdid herself and brought a little bit of the tastes of Cambodia back for us to enjoy. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Made a reservation two weeks in advance for father's day for hubby. Apparently I did not get the Pop up window that asked whether i wanted Khmai formal or casual, or i didn't read it carefully, so we ended up on the casual side. A $20 deposit is required to reserve. The people sitting next to us told us they had the same issue, so it wasn't just me. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the service is greatly improved from the former location. Servers are dressed in incredibly beautiful native costumes, male or female. Its a feast For the eyes in this place no matter where you sit, casual or formal. The difference between the casual and formal menus is that the casual side has a " tapas style" menu of street food selections that are appetizers in the fine dining section. The portions are easily enough for two people.Be aware that the formal side meals are slanted towards pork, but there are non- pork items available. Three menu items will fill you up. A great deal of thought went into the design and concept of this restaurant and it shows i will definitely return. Be sure to add time for your parking search, the area is very congested. So why four stars, not five? My disappointing reservation snafu, and some small glitches in service and restaurant design ( i literally had to leave the formal side and re- enter the restaurant from the street after using the bathroom due to poor marking.) Also, our pandan cake dessert arrived without the stated coconut ice cream. I highly encourage you to try the delicious cambodian cuisine at Khmai. read more
Khmai was delicious! It's definitely great to see a wider variety of ethnic foods in the city. We ordered eight dishes, probably over-ordering a bit. The fried mushrooms, tofu, and noodles were the least favorite at the table, while the beef sticks and Loc Lac were a hit with everyone. All the food was well-seasoned and flavorful. The one star deduction is due to an odd experience with the menu. While we were ordering, one of the servers interrupted us to ask if we were done with the menu, right in the middle of our order, which we found both wild and unprofessional. Other than that, it was a great experience overall! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Everything was great. The service was a breath of fresh air. The food as amazing. Intentionally decorated to spark your curiosity. read more
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Ask the Community - Khmai
Do they have high chairs, is it kid friendly?
Definitely kid friendly. They have a play area outside. I wasn't paying attention for high chairs.
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