Delicious food....BUT... Unfortunately despite booking in advance I was called and told we needed to be in a separate area with a limited menu for my my wife's bday dinner with our daughter. Nothing of the sort was indicated when booking. I will say having dined there the food was great! But there are tons of great dining options in Chicago and unfortunately a negative experience like this is enough for us to not return. Too bad as we live so close and after eating there once we're excited to make it part of our more regular nice dining options. read more

Whoa! Bring your friends for this BYOB restaurant! There's a casual half of the restaurant serving Cambodian street food menu and a fine dining half. The fine dining experience was fantastic. The service staff were all trained in what seemed to be formalities in Cambodia. There were multiple support staff beyond our assigned server, and everyone was very attentive and kind. For those intimidated by the food, the servers were fantastic at describing the food preparation, as well as recommend items based on your desired flavors and/or restrictions. They made accommodations for a friend to make a dish less spicy than indicated on the menu. Make a point of going to this gem and keeping it alive! read more

See all

So good! Great fried noodles stirfry awesome sauces. Will add tofu for those that are vegan and do not want meat. Most surprising portions aligned with the price! I've been to Cambodia myself and I can tell you right now. This is really good food. read more

We sat in the "informal side" and found the service, food, and ambiance to be extraordinary. Being new to Cambodian cuisine, we asked our server to guide and they steered us in the right direction with every course. I suspect there are no wrong turns on the menu, as we enjoyed every bite and were envious of the dishes that we didn't order while watching them delivered to other tables. Looking forward to a return visit and the chance to explore more of Khmai's exciting menu. read more

Incredible from start to finish. Downed everything so fast I didn't take any pictures because I was craving more flavor and taste! Got the eggrolls (a MUST), savory pancakes (more like unique sliders but totally recommend), wide noodles with tofu (every bite a masterpiece!!) and a third dish I remember little of because I blacked out in delight eating it. Something with fish and a crab sauce I believe, served with rice. The waiter recommended it and the egg rolls and he was so right for everything but I can't imagine anything could be wrong. Ended with lychee and coconut ice cream which were both phenomenal! Overall incredibly impressed and will recommend to anyone looking for a shareable meal. Maybe a spot a little hard to visit and eat on your own because of the price, but earns every penny. read more

I guess I can only update my review rather than write a new one, so here goes: the food is all still amazing, but we got each dish really fast, one almost immediately after another, so we didn't feel like we had much time to savor anything. We definitely had a good pace for dishes at previous dining experiences. This time we had two small plates that we hadn't even finished before the shared big plate arrived. I probably would have ordered a second drink if I didn't feel so rushed out of the restaurant this time. read more

Khmai is simply one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. I have eaten there several times, first at the original location on Howard, then on the "fancy" side and twice more on the casual side with my family and employees. The setting is beautiful, the staff is simply delightful and the food is fabulous. Word to the wise: their online reservation implies that only the fancy side can be reserved and the casual side is walk-in only. Call to make a reservation. And go, just not on a night that I want to! read more

The food was incredibly flavorful and their service was top-notch! The ambiance is welcoming, and the menu has a great variety. The desserts were quite interesting. Highly recommend for a memorable dining experience! read more

See all

Literally top ten restaurants for me in Chicago! So good!! We got a small dish to share and two big dishes to share! Literally so good and the dishes complimented each other so well!! As well, the drinks were so unique and some of the best drinks I've had in a while! We came here to celebrate our engagement and the staff was so kind and engaging! I hope personally love when the wait staff chat with you and all staff there was so great! Shoutout Billy and Andrew! Definitely check it out! read more

See all

Amazing food!! Really beautiful ambiance. The service was wonderful! Looking forward to my next visit

First off, I've been coming to Chicago for years and always trying new establishments. Ever rarely leaving a review , but this one deserves a shoutout. The Ambiance and decor is very hip and clean. The hospitality and service was excellent. Our Waiter Richard was wonderful and very knowledgeable of the menu and everything he recommended was amazing. The curry chicken, mango salad , the crab and shrimp fried rice and Kreung was what we ordered and everything was perfect. It was a wonderful dining experience and then the dessert came out. Let's just say this wasn't your ordinary store bought brand ice cream . It is actually made in house and was one of the best ice cream I've ever had form being so fluffy and light with just the right amount of sweetness and the durian flavor and lychee was just the topping of the cake . Definitely worth trying out if you're in The edge water area . Will definitely come back ! read more

We stopped in the bar for a couple of cocktails and a snack on Friday afternoon. The bartender was friendly and made amazing drinks. Kampot old fashioned was excellent, the Spicy Mango was sweet and very spicy. We tried the Sach Ko Daumlaung from the appetizer menu, the beef was tender, juicy and flavorful and the potatoes were crispy and delicious. Portion was more than enough to share and could easily be a meal. We can't wait to go back. read more

Great food, great service, and great staff! By far, one of the best Khmer food I've had. What a gem!

I feel I'm echoing a lot of what's already been said. However, if you keep reading good (great) reviews, you probably should check it out. Food= delicious. Service= outstanding. Ambiance= great! read more

amazing!! went with my dad, and our waiter was so so nice. Tried a couple different dishes, but my favorite by far was the Bai Bampong. Such a great place, I highly recommend! read more

Delicious Food and amazing service with authentic vibes as servers wore traditional clothing and the decor was beautifully done. read more

Khmai - Sach Ko Ja Kak - Cambodian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This is my second time eating at the casual sister restaurant on the corner, Kaun Khmai, after several times in the fine dining room and also at the former location on Howard. Love both of them. The service is always spectacular. The entire staff demonstrates a high level of hospitality. I had never had the opportunity to eat Cambodian food before dining at Khmai. The seasonings and flavors are unique and delicious. Prices are comparably reasonable to other dining establishments. It's the experience that surpasses most. Feel lucky to have such a beautiful place within walking distance. read more

This review is for the Kaun Khmai (not the fine dining restaurant): While I have eaten in South East Asia, and like to cook Thai and Indonesian cuisine, this was my first foray into Cambodian cuisine. In a nutshell: it was an amazing taste experience! For three persons we had three starters and two entrees family style. The skirt steak skewers were very tender, well seasoned and a flavor explosion. The spring rolls were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The dipping sauce was a delicious blend of fish sauce and a sweet base. The coconut croquettes were different altogether and another flavor burst. The stuffed eggplant had a very pleasant level of spice and the chicken curry was wholesome and deep in flavor. The latter was almost a desert and a touch on the sweet side for me. The cocktails were also exceptional (coconut gin concoction and spicy mango were delicious). Lastly, the service was very friendly and helpful with describing the dishes. All staff clearly take pride in their work. (A nod to Dakota). And even though we were almost 30 minutes late for our reservation, the front of the room made it work. We very much hope to eat here again on our next visit to Chicago!! read more

Share style plates. I would recommend getting the noodles with steak added and the coconut creme brûlée was to die for. The give me passion drink was amazing as well. Servers are nice and remembered us the second time we came read more

Food was just too salty and really killed our appetite. The service was great though and the food came at a good speed. Vibes were nice, not too loud. Just wish the food wasn't crazy salty. It was hard to eat. read more

I have to say Khmai was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. The service and food were fantastic! I've never had Cambodian cuisine before and it is unique. read more

Cannot say how amazing my experience was here!! The food was absolutely great and exceeded my expectations (especially the fried squid appetizer) but the service is what made the experience so great :) They definitely take care of their guests! We had a 8:15 reservation but the table before us was taking a bit longer than expected (30 mins ‍) but the hosts, bar tenders, and management were so kind and communicative about the situation (as it was also my bday) And then when we were finally sat, our server was so nice and cool and made my bday dinner perfect! Go eat here, you won't regret! read more

Didn't take any pics because we wanted to be present and fully experience Khmai. We dined on the formal dining side, and had no issues in doing so. I can see where figuring out where to go would be confusing (two separate doors, I'm sure they'll figure out a better way to mark the doors as they establish themselves), but I can tell you, the flavors you're going to experience are well worth the 30 seconds it might take you. We ordered many things, and all were 5 star+, but the dish I absolutely fell in love with was the beef short ribs in broth with rice. Service was good, loved the decor, the uniforms, the traditional greetings, and while a few employees seemed a little nervous, the overall energy was great. There are a few minor service items that will need to be addressed as they work out the kinks of a new opening; however, the overall vibe and the phenomenal flavors definitely won us over and we will be back again in the very near future! As a recommendation to management: I know it is not common in Rogers Park, but valet might be a strong consideration, especially on weekends, once you are more established. We live in RP and walked, but several drove in from other areas of the city and were significantly late to their reservations due to the lack of public parking in the area. read more

I had a lovely Sunday morning brunch with my family on the Kaun Khmai side of the restaurant. I can't say enough that the value was truly mind-blowing. The ribeye sandwich (Loc Lac Num Pang) was one of the best sandwiches my family ever had. The chicken and waffles (Sach Morn) were humongous. Everything tasted fresh, and the flavor and texture of each dish was special, exciting, and well-balanced. The menu offered something for everybody. The plating was thoughtful and neat. The room felt good--calm, clean, great lighting and street view, inviting displays and decor. The staff were very kind. It felt like a lot of care went into the brunch. And, it was one of the more affordable meals we've ever had (average $15 per entree). It's almost too good to be true. I need more people to try this place. It's been open less than a year. It has already earned an honored spot in my list of faves. read more

This is a beautiful new restaurant across from Loyola. The star was the spicy tamarind chicken wings (full-sized wings, not Buffalo-style wing pieces) with tender meat that fell off the bone and a sauce with perfectly balanced heat and sweetness. A close second were the lightly fried mushrooms that were wisps of flavor. The only quibble was the very delicious noodles clumped together. Prices and portions were reasonable. Service was attentive. read more

You might want to make a reservation. They will take walk ups, but the sitting isn't as nice. The food is delicious, portions seem small but fill you up quickly. Flavor profile is similar to Thai food, but uniquely different. A comparable comparison maybe to Filipino cuisine. read more

The food was excellent, loved every dish we had. Everything else is pretty rocky and hoping that's because they opened fairly recently and are still working out the kinks. We had a reservation for 4 on the casual side. We didn't know it was BYOB until we arrived, but one staff person suggested a liquor store down the street. Two of our party brought back a bottle of gin and a bottle of tonic. We asked for 4 glasses of ice, but our server took both bottles from the table and brought them to the bar, saying "you don't have to make your own drinks." Twenty minutes later the bottles still sat unopened at the back of the bar counter, so we asked for them back plus 4 glasses of ice and returned to our original plan. Two of our party drove and saw the Valet Parking sign outside, waited and waited, finally came into the restaurant and asked about it and were informed that there is no valet parking yet. Maybe they should remove the sign. We ordered the dishes recommended by our server, who told us they would come out one at a time. I guess they did come out one at a time, one immediately after the other, so our table was covered with dishes, making it difficult to get to everything, and we had no idea what we were eating. As mentioned, it was all absolutely delicious, just wish I knew what it was. Finally it was time to pay. We put 2 credit cards down and asked that it be split evenly. How hard is that. But we were told they will not split checks, ever. Seems most unreasonable. We'll try it again because the food is so good, but they have some work to do to deserve a fine dining description. read more

I was excited to try this but the food was mediocre, the service was worse. The bartender was rude, we moved to table. We explicitly told our server to send the food separately and 4 dishes came out at once. While the flavors were tasty the wing weren't crispy, the papaya salad (the server recommended) was a large format of the garnish on most dishes and most of our savory items were fried. Also $15 for two wings? Of the 7 dishes we ordered only one would I want to eat again a coconut curry dumpling. Not worth the $150 we spent for two people at a BYOB establishment. While I applaud the chef for an exciting menu they should be there in the kitchen for quality control. They should also ensure the service lives up to the food. It was my friend's birthday and the hostess specifically asked us if we were celebrating anything to which we said yes. They wrote it down on a slip of paper along with my name and other info. I'm not sure why, when the dessert came there was no candle and no where along the meal did anyone acknowledge my guests birthday. ***ALSO THE COSTUMES ARE BIZARRE. The staff is diverse and trying to force them into traditional attire while serving food was tacky at best. read more

Amazing food and great service! Glad Khmai has found a home in Rogers Park. Looking forward to going back for new menus and their breakfast!

Stopped by for a quick drink at the bar on 3/2/25 where we met Billie, who was bartending. After a discussion about unique cocktails he created one using Malort liquor. His own creation that he calls "Chicago Long Island." If you are looking for a delicious cocktail, I encourage you to experience this delight. We will stop by everytime in Chicago to enjoy another Chicago Long Island and conversation with Billie. You can find this creative bartender at Khmai in Roger's Park. Next time we'll also stay for dinner! read more

Delicious food . Also loved the decor on the fine dining side . There are really two restaurants: one fine dining and one street food/ bar . This review is for the fine dining side . Flavors were wonderful and complex . Service was excellent. Highly recommend read more

The food is everything it is advertised to be. We had the tasting menu and it all was interesting, with layered flavors and fantastic execution. The only element that reduces it to 4 stars was the wine pairing. There was nothing wrong with the selections per se, they just were not of the same interest or quality as the food and our server knew nothing about them. read more

Stunning space. Attentive service. Every dish was a flavor explosion and unique. I'd order every dish we had again (yellowtail crudo, shrimp dip, pork shoulder, short ribs, Khmer curry. Started at the bar and the coctails were original, strong, and delish with fantastic bar service. read more

My first experience in this restaurant when it was still at Howard was 5 star amazing and spoke highly of the service and food. Today I went again in their new location. The servers were all very attentive and constantly checking on us but the food took so long to arrive. Our main course didn't start to arrive until at least 1.5 hours after sitting. We ordered 5 main course in total. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th food didn't arrive until it was close to 2 hours later. One of the server said it was because we are at the upscale dining side and they want us to experience the food ?????? There are 2 sections of the new location and we sat at the supposedly upscale dining. read more

I'll start by saying my exposure to the Cambodian language is non-existent - however, the friendly welcomes, at the door and by our amazing server, Dakota, and the appreciative "thank yous" and "come again" in a beautiful native language were as awesome as the food. MY GOSH - it was a most creative menu - beautifully presented and fully consumed! YUM!! Three of us - 1 appetizer of eggrolls that were fried and with ground chicken - tasty yet not the highlight of our orders. try them, of course. We also shared a shredded mango salad that was topped (actually stuck sideways into a beautiful 6" diameter bowl) with a fried tilapia fillet. WOW!! such terrific flavors. We also shared a roasted eggplant dish stuffed with ground chicken and shrimp, great veggies and gentle spices - again, WOW! we cleaned our plates! last dish was a "hmm, we don't have any noodle dish" - so it was the one noodle dish (wide, rice noodles and pick you own protein). we ordered shrimp and, while eating the first two, our server said: "oh! your noodles and tofu will arrive in a moment" ... "uh, not tofu, shrimp." "oh, right! no worries" ... so, it came with BOTH shrimp and tofu ... fine. at this point, we were all pretty fully, so it mostly got packed "to go" with our dining companion! we made phone reservations 3 days prior as Khmai had been featured on TV - and the night before we got a voicemail asking if we had any food allergies, etc ... if so, please give them a call. VERY nice. MIND YOU, we tried the "casual" side of this establishment and were DELIGHTED. ... next, we'll go for the fancier, prix fixe dinner of multiple courses. seriously, a legion of staff - awesome bar - terrific bathrooms - super friendly and efficient staff ... VERY impressed and actually, for the evening, it was affordable. (only one person had one cocktail, btw). We'll be back. MIND YOU - parking is a challenge. super busy neighborhood - get as close as you can and walk (near loyola univ/red line) or take CTA or uber. worth it. definitely worth it. again - shout out to Dakota - what a charming and excellent server! read more

I just had a phenomenal meal at Khmai! My only regret was that I couldn't eat more, because I would have loved to have tried more dishes. I did have the coconut croquettes and the pork ribs, and both dishes were SO unique! The flavors were unique - the presentation was beautiful - the mocktails (Khmai does not yet have a liquor license) were delicious, as was the cassava root cake with coconut ice cream I had for dessert - it was all marvelous, made even more so by the beauty of the place and the friendliness of the staff. I will definitely be going back. read more

Excellent food at a decent price on the walk in side. Definitely would come back, and just might be the best restaurant by Loyola for any time of day! read more

Went to the casual "small bites" side. Cambodian cuisine seems to be a combination of Vietnamese and Sichuan cuisine with multiple umami- rich sauces, including a particularly tasty house made fish sauce for the excellent egg rolls. The chicken curry and short ribs were standouts. Mango mousse for dessert was just right. Service was cheerful, but the pace of dishes coming out of the kitchen was chaotic. Plan on being there awhile. read more