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photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining
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Whether it’s your first or tenth visit to Khmai, you’ll be treated like a regular. The friendly staff warmly welcomes you with a Cambodian greeting. Servers tell you their favorite dishes and chat about all the taste testing they did that day. The chef will drop a plate of savory crepes at your table, and joke about how her mom (who also works here) refuses to let anyone else make the banh chow because hers are the best.
There’s a wonderful sense of camaraderie at this Cambodian restaurant. But it's Khmai's fantastic food and always-evolving menu that keeps us coming back.
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photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Khmai is one of only two Cambodian restaurants in Chicago, Hermosa being the other. It began as a catering service, started doing pop-up dinners, and now finally has a permanent space in Rogers Park. Here, you’ll hear the dulcet tones of Khmer music and eat while TVs stream city shots, landscapes, and traditional Cambodian dances. It’s easy to relax in the casual space, full of friends not willing to give up the last beef skewer (understandable) or couples realizing that only one order of tamarind wings simply isn’t enough (also understandable).
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The menu at Khmai changes regularly, but (unlike when we buy scratch-offs) the money we spend always ends in success. One week they might have somlar machu kreoung, a soothing tamarind broth filled with tender short ribs and vegetables. Or maybe a bowl of chewy vermicelli topped with a rich, garlicky coconut sauce and ground chicken. Hopefully, they'll have the sach ko ang: Juicy beef skewers covered in an irresistible sweet and savory marinade with a pleasant hint of lemongrass.
Every dish is delightful— a complex layering of flavors and textures that makes us say “Ok, this is our favorite.” But after multiple visits and seeing our “favorites” disappear, we’ve learned not to get too attached. We just enjoy whatever incredible thing is on our plate.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Mai's Eggrolls
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Sach Koh Ang
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Slab Morn Ang
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Laab Sach Morn
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Somlar Machu Kreoung
Nom Ya
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