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    Khmai

    4.5 (97 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Khmai Takeout or Delivery

    Khmai Cambodian Restaurant Photos

    KHMAI ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Khmai

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    Store front
    Linda K.

    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..

    Darina H.

    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!

    Somlar kari- chicken curry
    Jonathan W.

    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.

    Cindy L.

    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.

    Marina L.

    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!

    Nom krouk
    Julie T.

    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.

    Liz M.

    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.

    Pandan waffle
    Christina H.

    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.

    Lychee cola and lychee sprite
    Linda C.

    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.

    Menu
    Christine H.

    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.

    Sach Ko Ja Kak (tender grilled skirt steak skewers, crab paste, soybean oil, lemongrass, chili red soy)
    Sheena B.

    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

    Tigui D.

    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.

    Inside area
    Erin C.

    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.

    Mango salad

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    Adored the food here. Everything extremely fresh and interesting. One surprise after another. Service was fine; prices super reasonable.

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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.

    Is Khmai vegetarian friendly?

    Yes!

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    Cafe Hoang - Bun bo hue

    Cafe Hoang

    3.9(230 reviews)
    2.0 miUptown
    $$

    We walked in and no one greeted us and we had to go to the register and waited another 10 min to…read moreget someone attention to be seated. No one came to take our orders until like 10 min later as well and the lady who took our order was not nice at all. Being Vietnamese this seemed very rude and service was horrible. Overall, expect to be wait during times that are busy. The plate of vegetables was not what I expected just a jumble of bean sprouts and lettuce and no mint or nothing at all. We ordered the Banh xeo or Vietnamese crepe which was good and the bun Bo hue which was so filled with flavors and really good. The spring rolls were good as well. You need to pay at the front if you don't want to wait too long but they should at least put a sign saying please seat yourself or something.

    Got you--here's the upgraded version with actual dish names and more flavor:…read more Cafe Hoang is one of those places that just never misses We've been coming here for over 10 years, and it's still just as amazing every single time. The food is absolutely incredible The Bún Bò Huế (spicy Hue-style beef noodle soup) is hands down a must The broth is rich, bold, and perfectly spiced with deep layers of flavor--it's seriously one of the best bowls you'll find anywhere. We also love the Chả Giò (crispy fried egg rolls)--super crunchy on the outside with a flavorful, savory filling that hits every time The Bún Bò Nướng Chả Giò (vermicelli bowl with grilled beef & egg rolls) is fresh, loaded, and perfectly balanced with herbs, noodles, and grilled meat The Bún Tôm Nướng Chả Giò (vermicelli bowl with grilled shrimp & egg rolls) is just as good--light, flavorful, and super satisfying And the Cơm Bì Sườn Chả (grilled pork chop with shredded pork skin and steamed pork meatloaf) is packed with flavor and always cooked perfectly What really makes this place special though is the people The owners are some of the nicest, most genuine people you'll ever meet--always friendly, welcoming, and they treat you like family. If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese & Thai food in Chicago, this spot is a must. Amazing food, amazing people, and after 10+ years... still one of our all-time favorites

    Photos
    Cafe Hoang
    Cafe Hoang - Shrimp, 2. Gỏi Cuốn / Fresh Spring Rolls (2 Pieces)

    Shrimp, 2. Gỏi Cuốn / Fresh Spring Rolls (2 Pieces)

    Cafe Hoang - Dining area

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    Dining area

    Royal Thai Restaurant - Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango

    Royal Thai Restaurant

    4.2(326 reviews)
    3.1 miNorth Center
    $$

    First time trying Royal Thai. Chose to order take-out in person so I could ask what could be made…read morevegan-friendly. Man running front of house directed me to their printed menu and suggested I pick what I want and then ask about modifications. After sifting through their large menu, I landed on a few items I thought I'd ask about. Thankfully, he was very knowledgeable about each item and what would need to be changed about it to make it vegan. I ordered the Crispy Pad Thai with Veggies, Pad Cashew with Tofu, and the Vegetable Dumplings (which he said are made in house). All were really delicious and good size portions. The in-restaurant dining room wasn't very busy but there was a steady stream of delivery drivers picking up orders, during my 15-20 minutes there. It's a modest, fairly casual restaurant with not a lot of "bells and whistles". The menus are very informal printed copies of what's listed online. But my experience included really good food, a knowledgeable staff, and confirmation of a great local spot for solid take-out. Looking forward to trying more of the menu.

    We walked in here randomly on a weekday for lunch. Seems like most ppl order take out, but we had a…read morelovely time dining in. We each got a Thai iced tea, they were splendid. Then we started w peanut sauce spring rolls and crab Rangoons. They do not skimp on the peanut sauce and as a peanut sauce lover, i was very happy w the amount of sauce they put on the rolls. The crab Rangoons were also excellent. We got beef pad see iew and tofu pad Thai. I will be back for both these dishes, esp the pad Thai. Delicious! This was actually my first time trying sticky rice w mango, it was insane lol soooo good. What have I been doin my whole life without this dessert??! The mango was ripe AF. Wow so good. I will definitely be back! There's some easy parking right out front.

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    Royal Thai Restaurant
    Royal Thai Restaurant - Tofu 47. Pad Thai Plate

    Tofu 47. Pad Thai Plate

    Royal Thai Restaurant - Thai Ice Tea

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    Thai Ice Tea

    Pasteur - Pasteur's LEMONGRASS CHICKEN Edible poetry!

    Pasteur

    3.8(333 reviews)
    1.4 miEdgewater
    $$

    Pasteur was a pleasant rediscovery. We fell in love with this restaurant many years ago, back when…read moreit was located on Sheridan and Lawrence. Later, we admired its high-end rebirth on North Broadway, well before the neighborhood had gentrified enough to match its classy atmosphere and sophisticated menu. Then Pasteur closed again and didn't reopen until after we had moved to San Diego. Last night, more than a decade later, we found Pasteur again! The same airy and elegant French Colonial interior remains, now paired with an amazingly fitting terrace. The menu's design could use an updated look to better match the restaurant's upscale décor, but what's on the menu matters far more than how the menu looks. And the dishes are gastronomic masterpieces -- no exaggeration. Since there were four of us, we each ordered a different appetizer and shared the dumplings, egg rolls, spring rolls, and Saigon crêpes so we could experience a variety of flavors. They were all truly exceptional. For our main courses, we had the catch-of-the-day branzino, lemongrass chicken, basil beef, and Pasteur's signature steak. As with the appetizers, we all sampled each other's dishes. Everything came with truly fresh, crisp vegetables, amazing sauces, and wonderful flavors. No disappointments, no envy, no regrets. Finally, we ordered only the Chocolate Mousse Cake to share, since there was hardly any room left for dessert after the generous portions -- portions so delicious that we practically cleaned every plate. Just the night before, we had the chocolate mousse cake at The Publican, and there was simply no comparison: Pasteur won hands down. In fact, Pasteur surpassed the much-hyped The Publican in every category: atmosphere, service, food, noise level, value, pricing, and convenient parking. Our exceptional dinner at Pasteur cost about half as much as our meal at The Publican and many other downtown spots, while delivering a far superior dining experience. We also want to thank Lisa and her fellow server (whose name I unfortunately can't remember) for being wonderful, attentive, quick, and incredibly polite -- all while graciously and heroically putting up with my jokes thanks to their great sense of humor. If you've read this far, I cannot recommend Pasteur highly enough. It remains one of the best foodie destinations in Chicago. It is absolutely worth the quick -- and scenic -- drive north along Lake Shore Drive for one of the most memorable dining experiences you can have in Chicago, or truly anywhere else. Enjoy, see our photos, and let me know what you think!

    We recently visited Pasteur for the first time and loved our experience. The store front and…read moreambiance are elegant, warm, chic, and inviting. The hostess and waitress were friendly and helpful from the moment we walked in until we left. Great service! We both tried cocktails and enjoyed their unique flavors. We tried the Lychee Martini and Pasteur Old Fashioned. Both were on the sweet side and deliciously boozy! For food, we started with the steam dumplings with chicken. The ginger dumpling sauce was so savory and scrumptious for dipping the delightful dumplings. We loved every bite! For meals we got the Basil Beef and Ginger Chicken. We tried one another's dishes and would have been happy with either meal. Both were bursting with fresh flavors and had perfect portion sizes. We loved every bite and had no leftovers. While Pasteur is on the pricier side, it is because the food is high quality and beautifully presented. Well worth the price! Pasteur has reservations, which I would recommend, especially if you want to sit outside on their gorgeous patio during warmer months. If you haven't been to Pasteur, we would recommend trying it at your earliest convenience!

    Photos
    Pasteur - Elegant dining room, comfortable chairs, excellent food.

    Elegant dining room, comfortable chairs, excellent food.

    Pasteur - CLAYPOT GINGER CHICKEN

    CLAYPOT GINGER CHICKEN

    Pasteur - Pasteur's elegant patio from a different angle

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    Pasteur's elegant patio from a different angle

    Khmai - cambodian - Updated May 2026

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