Some of the best food I've had in my life. The sausage based salad and prawns were amazing dishes. The sausage salad was similar to a lettuce wrap base, minimal "salad" fillers. read more

Hype is warranted. I booked ahead for to celebrate my birthday on a Saturday night, and opted for the bar because I wanted to do à la carte (tasting menu is required at the tables on weekends). I tried: + Thai iced tea + kanom jeeb nok - bird dumplings + yum nam khao tod - crispy rice salad + kalum tod nam pla - cabbage side + lohn tai pla - coconut milk and ground pork gravy with fresh turmeric root, galangal, and lime leaf, served with nam pla kai tom, crudité and jasmine rice + pla nung manao - steamed whole branzino + Passionfruit coconut shaved ice Wow, pretty much all bangers. Top highlights were the yum nam khao tod, lohn tai pla, pla nung manao and shaved ice. So good!! read more

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What an absolutely amazing experience. Knowing how popular this restaurant is, I made reservations a few weeks in advance. We arrived early and were quickly shown to our seats. We both saw the 'Taste of Kalaya' which goes for $85 per person. It comes with a few sharable appetizers, an entree and dessert served family style. Starting off with their Shaw Muang which are flower shaped dumplings with ground chicken, cucumber and a Thai chili, these were phenomenal. Simple, but beautifully presented. The fact these bite-sized dumplings were packed full of flavor and texture were extraordinary. Next were the Gui Chai which are crispy garlic chive rice cakes with a spicy sweet soy sauce. These were also tasty, but I would have preferred a thicker accompanying sauce that coats the rice cake after each dip, rather running right off it. We were also able to choose an extra appetizer, which we opted in for Plah Hoy Namg Rom which are grilled oysters with a chili jam, crispy shallot, lemongrass and herbs. These looked beautiful, but I felt the flavours overpowered the natural taste of the oyster. For mains, we opted in for the Goong Thod Kluae which is their wok-fried river prawn in brown butter w. shrimp paste and seafood nam jim, Gaeng Pae which is a goat and lamb curry with their own spice blend and toasted coconut, and Gai Yaang Naa Por (add-on, extra charge) which is charcoal grilled chicken glazed with coconut cream, turmeric, dark soy and fish sauce. The river prawn was phenomenal. The fact this was the size of a lobster was a huge wow-factor. It's served tableside where the head butter is first removed, then the succulent meat, and finally topped with the head butter. Presentation-wise, not that prettiest thing, but the flavours were incredible. Perhaps as the server is dissecting the river prawn, they could move it onto a clean plate with garnishes to make it look more presentable. Nevertheless, this is one of the best dishes I've had anywhere. The goat and lamb curry was slightly disappointing. We found it to be overly spicy where we couldn't taste the goat and/or lamb in the dish. We're not shy when it comes to spicy food, but this set our mouths ablaze and it was difficult to take 2nd and 3rd bites from this particular dish. For the charcoal grilled chicken was decent. I found parts of the dish to be on the dry side and other parts to be tender and juicy. I didn't necessarily taste the coconut cream or turmeric, but it was a decent dish. For sides, we opted in for the Yum Makhua Yao which is marinated eggplant w. mint, galangal, fried shallots and prik nam pla, and the Moo Tod Nam Pla which is crispy pork belly w. fish sauce. The eggplant was a nice side dish to take a break from the main courses and the crispy pork belly was nice as well. Crispy, not overly fatty or oily, and would have preferred that as a main over the goat and lamb curry. For dessert, we saw a couple of our favourites but with a twist. We opted in for their Durian Sticky Rice (Great spin on a traditional mango sticky rice) and their Thai tea tiramisu (a spin on your traditional tiramisu which comes with coffee-soaked ladyfingers). The durian sticky rice was out of this world. Durian in place of mango was brilliant. Perfectly ripe, soft and was a breathtaking dessert. As for the tiramisu, this was fantastic as well. The Thai tea flavour didn't shine through as much as I would have liked, but overall, excellent. It's worth noting, the service at this restaurant is impeccable. Probably one of the best hospitalities I've received anywhere. The servers reset your table in between courses by wiping it off and everyone was professional, knowledgeable and kind. Overall, I can see why this is listed on the top 50 restaurants in the U.S. coming in at #11 according to 'theworlds50best'. The quality of food, the service, atmosphere is top notch. read more

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best thai food experience ever. opened up my palate to go beyond tom yup and yellow curry. great service, great food. food is thai spicy, so be aware of the classifications. any place which does not have free refills for diet coke, gets one star less, so apologies. but greatest thai food in US for sure. read more

The authenticity is expressed in a way that I wish other establishments would study and assimilate. The food is outstanding. Their cusine runs the gamut of a sweet, spicy, colorful, flavor nova. Everything is aplomb in taste and portions. They want to serve you family style. Like tapas, dish after dish is verily brought to your table. The servers will push that aspect of menu selections naturally. The drinks are tropical and so well mixed. The interior is open, and it is extremely loud. It's very difficult to muse inside. read more

When I went here I didn't expect the food to be this good! Every dish had unique flavors and textures! I got the Jui Guay (amazing chewy texture and the mushroom + sauce combo is chefs kiss), Prik king Jae, and lastly the Pad Med Mamung- another must try (the cashew nuts were everything!). For drinks I got the Thai iced Tea and Lychee Negroni. Both were a hit. Overall I was very satisfied with the food. I will definitely go back here for any special event because the restaurant is gorgeous and the service was very professional and upscale. This was definitely an elevated Thai restaurant experience, you don't wanna miss out! read more

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Kalaya is the most incredible Thai restaurant on the east coast! It's no secret that they're highly acclaimed with tons of awards, and just recently received the Outstanding Restaurant award by James Beard! I've visited 3 times now and each time was amazing. The food reminds me of my childhood of my grandma's cooking. Everything is beautifully presented, so flavorful, and spicy dishes are actually spicy! The cocktails and dessert are always so well done. The service is great. Everyone I've encountered has been knowledgeable and offered great recommendations depending on our preferences. The ambiance is casual but vibrant in what looks like a former warehouse of some sort. Its industrial meets modern Thai with lots of plants throughout the space to give it warmth and color. Since this restaurant is in fishtown, street parking is tricky but there is a paid lot 4 blocks away. The ground chicken flower dumplings were beautiful and tasty. I prefer the bird shaped ones with the preserved cod since the dumpling is smooth with a uniform texture. The grilled oysters were outstanding. I loved the spicy sauce and the fried garlic on top. My husband and I agreed that they have the best yellow curry we've ever had. It's powerful and served with turmeric rice that balances the flavors so perfectly. The river prawn was umami heaven and so buttery. To drink I had the pandan daiquiri which was incredibly delicious! It was the perfect frozen summer cocktail. I can't wait to go back! read more

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I came here while on a food tour in Philadelphia/New Jersey. Food: 6.4/10 - I was very excited to come here, but frankly I didn't love my appetizers/entrees. The Thai shots were really good though. I also didn't like how my rice was served in a bag Service: 6/10 - I waited for 15 minutes after the other member of my party's food had arrived to get my entree. We did get seated on time though and the waiter was great at answering our questions. Ambiance: 8.3/10 - The venue is very cute and I love the busyness of the restaurant. read more

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Kalaya has a beautiful atmosphere with lush greenery, warm lighting, and a vibrant energy that makes the dining experience feel special. The service was attentive, and every dish was beautifully presented. We ordered the grilled prawns, goat curry with turmeric rice, crispy rice cakes, and the signature purple dumplings. The prawns were fresh and flavorful, the goat curry was rich and tender, and the rice cakes and dumplings were both unique and delicious. My only downside is the value. The portions were on the smaller side, especially considering the price, so it didn't feel like the best value for the cost. That said, the quality of the food and the ambiance made it an enjoyable experience. Overall, I'd recommend Kalaya if you're looking for creative, authentic Thai cuisine and a great atmosphere--just be prepared for smaller portions and higher prices. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes. read more

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Back again for another perfect Thai meal! Everything was FANTASTIC! Some of the dishes were spicy, but nothing as crazy hot as that yellow curry I had the first time. Not to mention, many of the cooling dishes did their jobs in mitigating the heat. The super-friendly and informative wait staff was careful to make sure that members of our party with food allergies were safe from shellfish. And Chef Nok stopped by our table to say hello! read more

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I've heard so many good things about Kalaya and finally was able to come here to celebrate a birthday recently. The restaurant is beautiful and very spacious, and service was impeccable. For our large party, we had to go with the tasting menu. Every dish was packed with flavor and many of them were spicy. While I enjoyed almost everything we ordered, my personal favorites were the chive rice cakes, river prawn, and fish curry--all of which were unique and unlike anything I've had anywhere else. The shrimp salad, goat curry, stir fried mushrooms, and grilled skirt steak were good as well but not as memorable. The only items I did not care for much were the pork belly (drier than expected) and flower chicken dumplings (flavor just didn't appeal to me). Initially, the appetizer portions seemed tiny, but with the tasting menu, our entire party was more than satiated with the main dishes and desserts. Overall, everyone had a great experience. Kalaya is truly deserving of its popularity and accolades. read more

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Came to here to meet up with friends who are parents of a 4 month old. The manager noticed we were being seated in a smaller booth which would have left the parents cramped with the carseat so she immediately had the staff relocate us. The bigger booth was so much more comfortable; it definitely enhanced our experience. The waiters were also wonderful with checking in on us throughout the meal but not trying to rush us out the door. We got 3 entrees + 1 side: - pla nung manao (branzino) - tumis pla (fish curry) - gai yang naa por (half chicken) - yum makhua yao (eggplant) My favorite was the tumis pla and I was sad we didn't have leftovers to take home. The eggplant (I'm not always the biggest fan) was delicious - great texture and complexity of flavor. The food is a bit pricey (portions are quite small) but it all tastes delicious. We shared this among 4 adults and I left satisfied. read more

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I loved going to this restaurant, blew my mind and expectations! The experience was excellent, the staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and options. So if you go in without knowing what to eat, they are very helpful! The ambiance was very pleasant and elevated. The food was amazing, she had the lamb curry (bit spicy), charcoal chicken entree, and the pork sausage for appetizer. All of these are delicious options. read more

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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

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Delicious food at a gorgeous restaurant. Service is unnecessarily pretentious and put off bc we didn't want to do a bunch of shared plates. I get that it's the intention of the restaurant but not a big deal if we want separate dishes from our group. Food is amazing though! read more

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Kalaya is a beautiful spot with great ambiance, friendly staff, and fast service. It definitely feels like a polished dining experience. We tried the gui chai rice cakes, kalum tod nam pla, and the pla nung manao. The pla nung manao is a steamed whole branzino with lime, fish sauce, cilantro, and seafood nam jim. It comes deboned with jasmine rice, which makes it easy to share, and the portion was definitely enough for two people. Our waiter recommended adding the cabbage as a side dish. It was very good, though probably not necessary with how ample the fish was. I know Kalaya is described as Southern Thai food, but based on what I tried and the menu overall, I'd say only 20% of the menu actually is. For context, I lived in Thailand for over 10 years and eat Thai food A LOT in LA, so I may be coming in with a different frame of reference. I thought Kalaya was good, but not my personal favorite Thai meal. That said, I can see why people love it, especially if you want a beautiful space, great service, and a more elevated Thai dinner. read more

Absolutely lives up to its reputation! We came for weekend lunch and were not disappointed. From the airy but intimate interior, attentive and welcoming service, to dishes that bring fresh flavor bombs and artistry on the plate, Kalaya should be on everyone's Philly list. read more

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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It's phenomenal. I could end the review there but just no there's no bad dishes. All the dumplings, the garlic chive app, everything is good. Get a shaved ice dish for dessert, it's a showstopper! read more

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

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Had a wonderful lunch here- I love the ambiance with the plants and high ceilings- the service is great- attentive and knowledgeable- the owner even came to ask how the meal was- the food is fantastic but I do think it is pretty pricey and portion size could be a bit bigger. We got the dumpling and chive cake for apps which I thought were delicious. We got the salad yum Kalyn bplee which was good but a little too spicy for us. We got the crab rice and the beef curry. Entrees were both very good but I was not blown away. Dessert we got Thai tiramisu which was delicious but was not a very strong Thai tea in it. All in all a wonderful lunch to go for special occasions ! read more

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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

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This place is obviously still a hot spot.. we went on a Friday night. The order Shaw dumplings, jui guay, ,grilled oysters, yam num khao Tod, lohn tai pia, gaeng pae, sua rong hai, moo Tod nam pla. To be honest the dumplings, skirt steak were hands down the best. The fried pork belly was cooked perfectly.. Everything seasoned to perfection.. spice is on point. The goat and lamb curry gravy was great but the lamb meat was dry and the goat was all fat. Our biggest issue was couldn't understand our server, it's just way too loud. Also, having to order off the pre set menu was I believe an issue with the meat cook temp on the gravy dishes. The pork was just really mushy. If you go try an avoid the weekend because of the preset menu. Make sure to Order the dumplings, the skirt steak, and pork belly. I do believe the nok curry andd lamb goat curry will be a much better experience then what we had cause the gravy and rice was great. read more

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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My last visit to Philadelphia, my best friend wanted to take me to this restaurant. Well, I knew little about the menu. She showed me a couple episodes on Netflix where the chef was featured. Immediately walking in, I felt like I was transported out of Philadelphia into this quaint little restaurant, and from that moment on, I was blown away. I could go on and on about the food and the delicious flavors that arrived at our table. We actually came on a Friday and did the tasting menu and it was the perfect amount of food that we even had leftovers to take home with us. The food was the perfect amount of spice and even the waitress helped us on what would be the perfect palette with our spice level that we were looking for. But above the food and the service I have to call out Chef Nok, not only was she so attentive to everyone in the restaurant, but immediately gravitated towards our table where my six month daughter was sitting. She got her some extra sticky rice for her to enjoy and even fed it to her, and my daughter was obsessed with her. This is truly a magical experience from the food to the ambience to the service, and of course to the amazing chef who produces this amazing restaurant and after seeing her story on Netflix, it's amazing to see how her dream come true. Will be going back!! read more

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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