12/19/2024
Finally made it in to try fine dining Cambodian cuisine at Khmai, in their beautiful new space on Sheridan Road in Rogers Park, just across from the Loyola campus.
➡️ Grilled skirt steak skewers marinated in spices with a caramelized sugar and peanut crust, served with sticky rice and spicy pickled vegetables. Succulent steak, this may have been my favorite dish.
➡️ 🔥 Papaya salad. We were given a choice of mild, "regular" spicy or Cambodian spicy. Wanting to experience the true cuisine I ordered the Cambodian spicy. WARNING unless you are made of flame retardant, do not get the Cambodian spicy! 🥵
➡️ Special brisket dish made to be a holiday dinner with Khmer flavors. Expertly charred brisket served over lemongrass garlic butter mashed potatoes with asparagus and mushrooms. Another stunner and my other favorite of the evening.
➡️ Grilled whole branzino with palm sugar, Fresno chilis, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms and crispy shallots. A beautiful presentation.
➡️ Silky lychee mousse with fresh berries was a perfect ending recommendation from our server.
➡️The gorgeous mural covering the south interior wall.
A flavorful experience! I'm looking to try their more casual sister restaurant Kaun Khmai (next door) but thecfine dining was an appreciated holiday treat.