Khmai

Q: Does Khmai offer gift cards?

Khmai does offer gift cards which you can purchase here .

Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (172)

$31 to $50

Cambodian

6580 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626-5312

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 30, 2025

8:30 PM

Booked 19 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Charming

Khmai Cambodian is a culinary journey that celebrates rich heritage and indomitable spirit of Cambodia. Named as an homage to Khmer, the native language, Mai means mother, which pays homage to Chef's mother.
Our restaurant is a testament to the enduring bond between family and food.

Khmai Cambodian is Inspired by the childhood experiences of our founder, Mona Sang, and her mother, Sarom Sieng, who survived the Cambodian genocide, our menu pays tribute to their unwavering resilience and passion for cooking. As a James Beard Semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2023, Khmai Cambodian has earned acclaim for its commitment to preserving and showcasing the culinary treasures of Cambodia.

Also enjoy our new concept Kaun Khmai, where the spirit of Cambodia comes alive through bold flavors and vibrant experiences. Translating to "Children of Cambodia," our lively and casual atmosphere invites you to explore the innovative fusion of traditional Khmer street food with a generational twist.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Cambodian, Southeast Asian, Asian
Hours of operation
Wed–Fri 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Wed–Fri 10:00 am–2:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 626-7710
Website
https://khmai-fine-dining.com/
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Mona Sang
Catering
Bring the vibrant flavors of Cambodia to your next event with our catering services! Our authentic dishes are perfect for corporate meetings, family gatherings, and celebrations of any size. Let us create a memorable culinary experience for your guests. Contact us to discuss menu options and make your event unforgettable!
Private party facilities
Host your next event with us! Our authentic Cambodian restaurant offers a unique, inviting space for birthdays, corporate gatherings, and special celebrations. Treat your guests to rich flavors and a memorable experience. Contact us for private event details and to start planning!

Location
6580 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626-5312
Neighborhood
North of Foster / Rogers Park
Cross street
Sheridan
Parking details
None
Public transit
CTA Loyola Red Line Stop CTA 155, 147
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Vegan

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Experiences

Khmai Tales (Dinner & Show)
$150.00 per person
Prepaid
May 4, 2025 only
7:00 PM
A Journey Through Cambodian History & Cuisine ⚠️ This journey includes sensitive themes and references to violence. We understand that these moments may be emotional or triggering, and we want to be clear: Khmai Tales is a space of reflection, remembrance, and care. We aim to create a safe, respectful space for all who join us—where the past is honored and healing can begin through food, storytelling, and connection. Throughout your dining experience, you will be immersed in six pivotal moments of Cambodian history, woven seamlessly between courses. Each scene will transport you through time—from the vibrant pre-genocide era, through the resilience of Khmer Rouge survival, to the present-day revival of Cambodian culture. As you savor each dish, you’ll witness the untold stories behind the flavors, traditions, and memories shaping Chef Sang’s family journey. This is more than a meal—it is a tribute to history, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of the Khmer people. A Journey through past, present, and future. 7 courses, one unforgettable night.

What 172 people are saying

Khmai reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.5Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Khmai offers a delightful Cambodian culinary journey with "outstanding service" and vibrant flavors. Highlights include "unique and delicious" dishes like the shredded mango salad, egg rolls, and bone marrow ribeye. While the atmosphere is lively and welcoming, some guests found the music too loud. Overall, it's "a must-try" dining experience.

172 Reviews

T
Tim
Chicago4 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good food, excellent service. I had a mango cocktail which was better than I expected. The egg rolls were quite good. My date and I split a wide noodle dish with shrimp that I liked a lot. Dessert was good. Our server was very nice.
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M
Meredith
Portland2 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My daughter recommended this restaurant after dining a couple of weeks ago. We ordered her favorites and tried something new too. Everything was delicious and the menu has many choices for meat eaters, pescatarian, and even vegan diners. The staff were friendly and accommodating. I appreciated the commitment to using Cambodian language for a cultural affect, always quickly translated of course.
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M
Mark
Chicago2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Besides the dinner, which was truly phenomenal, the service was outstanding. Dakota, our server, was incredibly knowledgeable and could not have been more friendly. He was training a new server, and he set a wonderful example for the new employee. This is was my second meal at this establishment, and it certainly won't be my last. I will recommend this wonderful restaurant to everyone I know! Mark Alan Ursa
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food. It was my first time there but I will definitely return.
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A
Alan
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined on April 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Outstanding. Great food and atmosphere. This was our first visit. We had to wait about 20 minutes past our reservation time, but once seated everything exceeded our expectations. Attentive service, Food had unique flavors, not exactly Vietnamese, Thai, or Malay. For starters, extremely tasty egg rolls (with ground chicken) and marinated grilled skirt steak skewers. The "small plates" were still shareable -- we enjoyed the grilled ribeye and the shredded mango salad with crispy fried tilapia, plus the bigger "share plate" of pan-fried wide noodles with chicken. Topped it all off with house-made lychee ice cream (with chunks of lychee).
KhmaiResponded 7 days ago
Thank you so much for spending your evening with us and for this thoughtful review. We’re honored you chose Khmai for your first Cambodian dining experience, and it’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed the unique flavors of our dishes—from the mango salad and ribeye to our house-made lychee ice cream! We also sincerely appreciate your patience with the wait. Your feedback is noted, and we’re always working to fine-tune our guest experience—especially when it comes to timing. We truly hope you’ll visit again soon. Thank you again for the kind words and support. 🙏
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M
Mary VIP
New Orleans14 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Lovely environment and lovely people in the restaurant. Lots of young people really trying to provide an elevated experience. I'm grateful to have another option in our area and wish the restaurant luck and we'll continue to support it. I will say I think the food was good. Not exceptional. It's quite expensive, but I'll give it another try and come back. It was really crowded, lively vibe and that was great, so congratulations. I'll be back.
KhmaiResponded 7 days ago
Thank you so much for your honest and thoughtful feedback — we truly appreciate your support and kind words about our team and environment. We’re so glad to be part of this community and to bring something new to the area. We’re always listening and learning, and we hope your next visit truly wows you. Looking forward to welcoming you back again soon!
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S
Sorel
Puerto Vallarta6 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and service in a great ambiance. Friendly staff too. I’ve been coming to Khmai since their days in the old location and have never been disappointed. Wishing them continued success!!
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R
Rosalind Druce VIP
Chicago68 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 13, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
We were excited to try this restaurant in Rogers Park, and booked for 4pm on a Sunday. Very friendly welcome at the front desk and we were seated at a window table for two. Our waiter was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the Cambodian dishes. All of the dishes, egg rolls, mango salad,spicy rice and eggplant were delicious and delivered promptly.I had a couple of issues though. The removal of our dishes seemed hurried to me and we had to remind the staff that we were still eating. The biggest spoiler was the music being played. Continuous rap was a real turnoff. Please, whoever is in charge of music and ambience, choose a more appropriate genre. The music had no relevance whatsoever to the restaurant. Really disappointing. The price point is high, so for us it would be a once in a while visit.
KhmaiResponded 7 days ago
Thank you for dining with us and for your kind words about the food and service. We’re glad Chris made your experience enjoyable! The music is part of the casual, street food-inspired vibe we’ve created on that side, reflecting Cambodian street food culture. We understand that it might not be for everyone, though. For a quieter experience, we offer an upscale dining side on Fridays and Saturdays with a calmer ambiance and a tasting journey. We’d love to have you try that side on your next visit. Thanks again for your feedback, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
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S
Shaum
Chicago9 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It’s just perfect. I’d be here every week if I could.
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A
Arlene
Chicago70 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely restaurant with welcoming staff and very good food. A pleasant experience.
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FAQs

Khmai is rated 4.7 stars by 172 OpenTable diners.

Khmai does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.